(rshsdepot) Duffields, WV

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From The Herald-Mail.
 
Photos available at: 
_http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=198871&format=html_ 
(http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=198871&format=html) 
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
07/17/2008

Restoration of Civil War-era railroad station in Jefferson County under  way

By DAVE McMILLION 
_charlestown_@_herald-mail.com_ (mailto:charlestown@herald-mail.com) 
 

Want to help?
 

Donations to help save a Civil War-era train station north of Charles  Town, 
W.Va., may be sent to Duffields Station Inc., P.O. Box 1806,  Shepherdstown, 
WV 25443. Make checks payable to Duffields Station Inc. Donations  are tax 
deductible. 
 

DUFFIELDS, W.Va. - Workers have torn off a dilapidated roof and are  getting 
ready to install a new metal one, beginning the restoration of a Civil  
War-era train station in the community of Duffields. 
 

Duffields Station Inc., a local group that purchased the building in  hopes 
of restoring it, contracted with A.E. Piercy of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., to  
install a standing-seam roof. The work is expected to be completed by early next  
month, according to organization members. 
 

The old roof was falling apart, wooden floors inside had become  "spongy" and 
Duffields Station Inc. members were eager to start stabilizing the  building. 
 

With $5,270 raised to start renovation, Duffields Station members were  ready 
to begin replacement of the roof. 
 

Among the group's other priorities are dealing with the water  collecting in 
the building's stone foundation, and accepting bids for work on  doors and 
windows, Duffields Station President Jack Snyder said. 
 

Duffields Station members are working to raise $8,550, which will allow  them 
to obtain a grant for the same amount from the state, Snyder has said. 
 

Work has started on the station since the stabilization project needs  to be 
completed by December under the terms of the grant, Snyder said Monday. 
 

Snyder appeared before the Jefferson County Commission last Thursday to  
request $3,000, but the commissioners said they would need to review their  budget 
before making a decision, Snyder said. 
 

Commissioner Rusty Morgan said Monday that the train station renovation  is a 
good project but said there is a lot of financial pressure on the  
commission. 
 

Morgan said the commission can only fund the most critical needs now  and 
added he will probably not be in favor of funding the project, although he  did 
not know how the rest of the commission feels. 
 

"This is not a good time for us," said Morgan. 
 

"We'll find it one way or another," Snyder said of the money. 
 

The half stone, half wooden train station was built in 1839 and is a  short 
distance east of where Flowing Springs Road crosses the railroad tracks in  
Duffields, north of Charles Town. 
 

The wooden section is decrepit, and needs to be torn down and rebuilt,  
Snyder said. It appears the wooden section, which was where goods were stored,  was 
"thrown together" when the station was built and did not have a proper  
foundation, Snyder said. 
 

Duffields Station members claim the train station is the second-oldest  
"purpose-built" train station in the country. 
 

A purpose-built train station means it was constructed for that reason,  
unlike some train station buildings that served other purposes. 
 

The station was used to supply Union troops during the Civil War and  mention 
of the building shows up in historical accounts, including the book "The  
James E. Taylor Sketchbook." Taylor was a sketch artist during the Civil War. 
 

Duffields Station members are interested in fully modernizing the  station 
for public use - their plans include installing electric service and  plumbing - 
and establishing a visitors center at the site, Snyder said. 
 

A full renovation was initially estimated to cost $200,000 but the work  will 
probably cost about $500,000, Snyder said. 
 

Once Duffields Station members get the building stabilized, they will  
probably "take a step back for a while" and plan for a full restoration, Snyder  
said.
 



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