RE: (rshsdepot) Burlington, IA

["tonydawson1 Dawson" <tonydawson1_@_msn.com>]

You might also try the State Archives in Trenton.

Tony Dawson


>From: "Bernie Wagenblast" <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>
>Reply-To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net
>To: <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>, <amiller156@verizon.net>
>Subject: RE: (rshsdepot) Burlington, IA
>Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:47:44 -0400
>
>Ann,
>
>I'm not aware of any and wasn't able to find photos of the interior of the
>station but I would have to think they exist.  Have you checked the
>Phillipsburg Historical Society?
>http://www.pburglib.org/phs/index2.htm
>
>Perhaps they or the Phillipsburg Public Library can point you in the right
>direction.
>
>Bernie
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ANN MILLER [mailto:amiller156_@_verizon.net]
>Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 10:44 AM
>To: rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net
>Subject: Re: (rshsdepot) Burlington, IA
>
>Bernie:
>Are there any interior pictures of the Phillipsburg Union Station in
>Phillipsburg, NJ. We are about to begin a roof replacement (reslate) so 
>that
>
>we can eventually restore the building to its former glory. However, none 
>of
>
>us knows what the interior looked like.
>Ann Miller
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com>
>To: <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
>Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 6:34 PM
>Subject: (rshsdepot) Burlington, IA
>
>
> > From The Hawk Eye.
> > Photos and article available at:
> > _http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Depot_072207_B_town_
> > (http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Depot_072207_B_town)
> >
> > Bernie Wagenblast
> >
> > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >
> >
> > Burlington depot gleamed at grand opening
> > By MIKE AUGSPURGER
> > _maugspurger_@_thehawkeye.com_ (mailto:augspurger@thehawkeye.com)
> > Train tickets can't be purchased in the depot heralded 63 years ago as 
>the
> > one of the country's best passenger rail stations.
> > The handsome structure in downtown Burlington was built for $300,000 
>after
>
> > a
> > fire destroyed the previous Victorian-style depot. Constructed in 1944
> > while
> > most building supplies were being rationed during World War II, it
> > reflected
> > the  faith the railroad had in its permanency to the area.
> > "We hope that now that we have built the station you will use it," CB&Q
> > president Ralph Budd said during a grand-opening ceremony in Burlington.
> > "We
> > aimed to build a station in keeping with the modern ideas of
> > utilitarianism. It
> > is harmonious with our streamlined trains."
> > The 22,000-square-foot, two-story station equipped with modern 
>facilities
> > and
> > displaying a Wisconsin fieldstone exterior made a big impression along
> > Main
> > Street.
> > Visitors were struck by the yellow-and-green color scheme in the waiting
> > room. Butter-color window drapes hung from the top of the Great Hall's
> > 24-foot
> > ceiling.
> > Walnut furniture upholstered in gray and green also caught their eyes.
> > "They saw a club-like arrangement of furnishings, tables with built-in 
>ash
> > trays, walnut boxes for tropical plants," the newspaper reported.
> > Burlington Mayor Max A. Conrad received keys to the depot as a 
>ceremonial
> > gesture from the railroad. No one knew then that five decades later the
> > city
> > actually would own the building, but only after it had deteriorated 
>under
> > the
> > railroad's watch.
> > What was once the pride of the railroad had become a sore spot in the
> > downtown district. Some renovation has been done, but much more work 
>needs
>
> > to be
> > scheduled, officials say.
> > Except for times when volunteers help Amtrak passengers twice a day, the
> > depot is all but empty and lifeless, much like the nearby steam 
>locomotive
>
> > that
> > used to be a viable part of the rails.
> > City takes over
> > Decades ago, the Burlington Northern, now BNSF Railway, decided to 
>dispose
>
> > of
> > some its depots. In many cases, railroad officials had spent little 
>money
> > maintaining the buildings they once boasted as industry prizes.
> > Burlington's depot represents the first stop west of the Mississippi 
>River
> > for Amtrak's California Zephyr on its route from Chicago to the West
> > Coast.
> > The building had been in steady deterioration since the 1960s and flood
> > damage only aggravated conditions. Citizens complained to city officials
> > about
> > the depot's dilapidated appearance and negotiations were started with 
>the
> > railroad.
> > In 1992, Burlington Northern considered donating the building to the 
>city,
> > but company officials scrapped the idea. They decided to have the 
>building
> > appraised and negotiate with the city or other interested parties.
> > Eight years earlier, Trailways bus line owner Ron Moore tried to rent
> > space
> > at the depot, but BN refused. Trailways then bought a building on 
>Broadway
> > Street in West Burlington.
> > The city was in its second year of negotiations when Amtrak's ticket
> > office
> > closed in August 1993 due to flood concerns from the rising Mississippi
> > River.
> > Ticket sales moved to the previously unstaffed depot in Mount Pleasant 
>and
> > have  not returned.
> > Burlington then received a $175,000 grant from the Intermodel Surface
> > Transportation Act through the Iowa Department of Transportation to buy
> > the  depot
> > and make immediate, but costly, renovations.
> > The railroad and Burlington officials reached an agreement for $52,000,
> > but
> > the BN relented, said Doug Worden, Burlington's deputy city manager. In
> > early
> > 1994, the DOT cleared the way for the city to use eminent domain since 
>it
> > and
> > BN  couldn't come to an agreement after three years of talks.
> > After going through condemnation hearings, a district court judge ruled
> > the
> > railroad should be paid $92,077. A $52,000 check was written in December
> > 1994,
> > with the remainder paid in1996.
> > By then, everything seemed busted. Windows needed replacing, as did the
> > roof.
> > The whole thing needed painted and spruced up. The heating system had to
> > be
> > repaired before winter arrived.
> > At the time, officials also hoped a restaurant would once again locate 
>in
> > the
> > building. City and economic development officials also urged -- and 
>still
> > do
> > --  that Amtrak return its ticket station to Burlington.
> > In 1997, the city sold $200,000 in general obligation bonds for the
> > depot's
> > renovation and combined the money leftover from the state grant. From 
>then
>
> > to
> > 2003, the city spent nearly $453,000 for renovation work.
> > The money has been used for exterior work, major roof repairs, new
> > awnings,
> > replacing windows, installing decorative fencing, replacing doors,
> > decorative
> > lighting and installing a new heating system for the Great Hall, 
>Amtrak's
> > still-vacant offices and restrooms.
> > Most of the city's funding toward the depot in recent years has paid for
> > minor maintenance and utility bills -- ranging from $13,000 to $20,000
> > annually.
> >
> > Pondering options
> > Inquiries from prospective users for the depot have ranged from a taxi 
>cab
> > service and Trailways bus line to people who wanted to hold weddings,
> > parties
> > or  reunions inside the historic structure.
> > The city in 1996 moved the Burlington Urban System's hub to the depot,
> > using
> > the same waiting room created for Amtrak customers.
> > A few years ago, some talk of a restaurant, offices or a sandwich shop 
>in
> > the
> > depot's north end filtered through the city but results never
> > materialized.
> > Renewed interest in the restaurant idea also was sparked in 1999 by
> > discussions to build a replica of Iowa's first territorial capitol 
>across
> > the  street,
> > where the Union Hotel once stood. The city demolished the hotel in 1998
> > and
> > planted grass.
> > The capitol replica was estimated to cost $575,000 under a plan 
>suggested
> > by
> > the Burlington/West Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce and others 
>wishing
>
> > to
> > see improvements in the downtown district.
> > City development officials then had visions that included opening up the
> > depot's large waiting room -- with its tall windows and tiled floors --
> > all the
> > way back to the old ticket booth to make it visually appealing to 
>suitors.
> > Maintaining significance
> > A memo in 1996 by then-city development director Mark Brockway said the
> > "overall objective or goal of this project is to renovate the depot and
> > grounds
> > and establish a viable use reflective of the prominence and vitality 
>once
> > exhibited by this historic and significant transportation facility."
> > Besides local, state and other resources, many volunteers have helped 
>the
> > city with operating, maintaining or promoting the depot's use.
> > Members of Friends of the Depot have spent countless hours and donated
> > dollars to keep the area maintained, as well as decorating it for the
> > holidays,
> > repairing the women's bathroom and reupholstering waiting room benches.
> > Another local group cares for the steam engine in the side yard.
> > Officials agree, however, that large sums of money are needed to 
>properly
> > refurbish the structure inside and out.
> > Besides becoming an important center for various forms of 
>transportation,
> > the
> > building would give the area another place for historical displays of 
>the
> > railroad, riverboat and other modes of transportation in Burlington,
> > Brockway's
> > report said.
> > One historical fact, the report noted, is that Burlington native Arthur
> > Hartman was a boilermaker for the Burlington Railroad in 1910. In his
> > spare  time,
> > Hartman constructed a monoplane and the Wright Brothers advised him of 
>the
> > proper wing changer design.
> > On May 10, 1910, Hartman left the ground at the Burlington Golf Course 
>and
>
> > is
> > credited as being the first Iowan to fly an airplane.
> > "This and other such historical events and facts associated with the
> > Burlington depot cannot, and should not, be discounted," Brockway said.
> > Conditions fading
> > The Great Hall in the Burlington Depot isn't so grandiose anymore and 
>the
> > public can't enter it. The locked double doors also have wooden 2-by-4s
> > and iron
> > brackets beefing up security.
> > Butter-color drapes no longer hang in the room. Although some debris is
> > scattered, the room is fairly clean -- as are others.
> > Sheets of insulation board or folded-over black plastic serve as blinds 
>in
> > several office windows. From what one can tell by peering through the
> > dirty
> > windows, varmints have not yet taken up residence inside.
> > Railroad memorabilia is displayed behind a small glassed room in the
> > lobby. A
> > nearby, half-full snack machine sometimes doesn't work, depot patrons
> > said.
> > A  pop machine, which sounds like it's polishing rocks rather than 
>cooling
> > beverages, also is known to keep customers' coins.
> > Tattered telephone books show they've been well-used. Few brochures for
> > visitors are available in the display case. Message boards haven't 
>changed
>
> > much
> > since the Amtrak ticket station left in 1993.
> > Two signs erected in 1995 touting restoration efforts by Friends of the
> > Depot
> > and city have faded, especially the one facing the setting sun along 
>Main
> > Street.
> > Surprisingly, little vandalism is evident even though the building is
> > unattended for hours at a time. Video security cameras, however, keep 
>the
> > depot
> > under constant watch.
> > Depot patrons may use the small lobby that has restrooms, or wait 
>outside
> > for
> > trains or buses. Some of the benches or picnic tables in the open air 
>have
> > cracked, peeled paint.
> > Richard McColloch of Fort Madison recently waited for his wife, Sarah, 
>to
> > arrive on an eastbound train.
> > He recalled his Burlington childhood days when the depot was busy, "just
> > like
> > downtown that used to be shoulder-to-shoulder people. And going to the
> > depot
> > restaurant was a treat. It had a reputation -- a darn good one."
> > A believer in public transportation, McColloch said the depot is
> > convenient
> > and more national emphasis should be placed on passenger-rail systems. 
>Gas
>
> > and
> > air service have become expensive, he said.
> > But McColloch was saddened by the condition of the depot, and believes
> > local
> > officials could do better.
> > "No one has bothered cutting down weeds. Look at them growing in the
> > sidewalks," he said. "It doesn't take much to keep that  up."
> >
> >
> >
> > ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new 
>AOL
>
> > at
> > http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
> >
> > =================================
> > The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
> > railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
> > To Unsubscribe: http://lists.railfan.net/rshsdepot-photo/unsub.html
> >
>
>
>=================================
>The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
>railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
>To Unsubscribe: http://lists.railfan.net/rshsdepot-photo/unsub.html
>
>=================================
>The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
>railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
>To Unsubscribe: http://lists.railfan.net/rshsdepot-photo/unsub.html


=================================
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------------------------------

End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1579
********************************

=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org