|
|
|
A year of hard work by Blue Springs Historical Society President Mary Potter and lot of other volunteers is paying off.
The 1926 Chicago & Alton Depot, one of the oldest structures in the city, will get a new home thanks to City Council action this week. The council approved a $1-a-year lease that clears the way to move the depot to Central Park. The long-closed building will be moved there from its location a few blocks away just off Main Street at the crossing of the Kansas City Southern tracks.
Through this process, Potter has consistently reminded residents of a couple of points. One is that we need to remember the railroad is why Blue Springs grew where it grew. In its early days, the village essentially picked up and moved when the rail line came through what is today downtown Blue Springs. The other point is that over the years the city has preserved too few of the old buildings that serve as visible reminders of how we are rooted in our communities’ histories. It’s good to win one this time.
The old Chicago & Alton Depot in Independence also at one time was dilapidated and overlooked. But it’s been restored and moved, and today it’s among the city’s historic jewels. That’s basically the plan for the Blue Springs Depot.
Proponents are still raising money, and there’s a lot of work to do, but things have come a long way from last spring, when the Kansas City Southern had taken out a city permit to tear down the building. Now the railroad is among those contributing to its preservation.
The long-term use of the building also needs to be clarified. One idea that’s been floated is a railroad museum. The area could use one of those, and it’s a good bet that would bring a fair number of visitors to the city.
A year of hard work by Blue Springs Historical Society President Mary Potter and lot of other volunteers is paying off.
The 1926 Chicago & Alton Depot, one of the oldest structures in the city, will get a new home thanks to City Council action this week. The council approved a $1-a-year lease that clears the way to move the depot to Central Park. The long-closed building will be moved there from its location a few blocks away just off Main Street at the crossing of the Kansas City Southern tracks.
Through this process, Potter has consistently reminded residents of a couple of points. One is that we need to remember the railroad is why Blue Springs grew where it grew. In its early days, the village essentially picked up and moved when the rail line came through what is today downtown Blue Springs. The other point is that over the years the city has preserved too few of the old buildings that serve as visible reminders of how we are rooted in our communities’ histories. It’s good to win one this time.
The old Chicago & Alton Depot in Independence also at one time was dilapidated and overlooked. But it’s been restored and moved, and today it’s among the city’s historic jewels. That’s basically the plan for the Blue Springs Depot.
Proponents are still raising money, and there’s a lot of work to do, but things have come a long way from last spring, when the Kansas City Southern had taken out a city permit to tear down the building. Now the railroad is among those contributing to its preservation.
The long-term use of the building also needs to be clarified. One idea that’s been floated is a railroad museum. The area could use one of those, and it’s a good bet that would bring a fair number of visitors to the city.
