(rshsdepot) Duffields, WV

["J. Henry Priebe Jr." <root_@_net.bluemoon.net>]

It is reported to be the second oldest surviving train station in the United
States. Duffields is just east of Shenandoah Junction on the B&O. It's 9-1/2
miles southeast of Martinsburg and 5 miles northwest of Harpers Ferry (Potomac
River) as the crow flies.

http://www.journal-news.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=6552

Henry

J. Henry Priebe Jr.    Blue Moon Internet Corp Network Administrator
www.bluemoon.net       Internet Access & Web Hosting
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Area nonprofit buys second oldest train station in U.S.

DUFFIELDS - An area nonprofit organization recently acquired the rights to the
second oldest surviving train station in the United States, with the hope of
turning it into a museum.

Duffields Station Inc. finalized the sale on Jan. 19, after securing the
station's purchase with the help of Arcadia Building Co. The station was
purchased from the previous owners for $25,000, and then it was donated by Don
Miller of Arcadia to the Duffields nonprofit agency.

Jack Snyder, president of Duffields Station Inc., said his interest in
restoring the historic train station began in August 1993.

Snyder and others interested in railroads, particularly those interested in
Duffields Station, formed the nonprofit group in July 2003 with the purpose of
purchasing the station and converting it into a museum.

Snyder said railroad technology was vital to America when Duffields Station
was constructed in 1839.

"It was the (technology) of the day, like the Internet is now. It was the one
thing you didn.t dare be without," he said.

The station is not only important to the history of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad, but also to the Civil War. Union troops of the 10th Maine unit were
garrisoned at Duffields as early as February 1862, according to information
provided by Snyder. This garrison was assigned to the station because it was
an important resupply point for Union forces, Snyder said.

A battle on June 29, 1864, between Confederate troops commanded by Lt. Col.
John S. Mosby and the Union garrison, is just one of many clashes that
happened near the site.

"Civil War re-enactors will probably act out Mosby's raid (on Duffields
Station) in the future," Snyder said.

Snyder said the archaeological interest of the site will be protected, and he
hopes to have archaeology students from Shepherd University help examine the
area.

He said he was proud that the second oldest surviving train station in the
United States is now in the hands of the public. He hopes to eventually have a
museum on the premises, which will be open for special occasions.

Snyder's agency almost missed the opportunity to own the station. Duffields
Station Inc. originally made an offer of $13,000 for the building, but the
owners were not interested in the sum, and were quickly offered $20,000 by
another party.

Luckily for Snyder's group, Miller was able to buy the station for Duffields
Station Inc. Miller was involved with the project for several years, ever
since he and other people involved with the nearby Harvest Hills subdivision
were receptive to the idea of helping restore the station.

After completing the station's sale, Duffields Station Inc. immediately
started planning for safety improvements.

John Restaino, one of the vice presidents of Duffields Station Inc., said
critical work needs to be done immediately to stabilize the historic
structure. He said the wooden lintels that hold the roof up are so rotten they
could give way, the stone work needs repair, and the basement is flooded.

"I want to stress how threatened the building is right now," Restaino said.

He said the work on the lintels is the most urgent, and likely should have
been completed two years ago. Restaino estimates a $20,000 initial investment
will be required just to make the building safe.

"We sometimes underestimate the holding strength of this old wood, but it's
getting kind of iffy," he said.

Section: News    Posted: 1/25/2007


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