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HPS annual meeting to highlight local railroad history and preservation
All are invited to the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County (HPS) annual meeting on Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. at the Putnam County Museum, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle.
HPS has engaged Neil Hoerstman to conduct a condition assessment for the exterior restoration of the Greencastle Vandalia-Pennsylvania Railroad freight depot. In addition to the assessment, he was hired to provide a cost estimate or range for that restoration.
For most of the first half of the 20th century, Greencastle was serviced by four rail systems — the Vandalia-Pennsylvania Railroad, the Monon Railroad, the Big Four or New York Central Railroad System and an electrified Interurban Rail System. All of these links had an assortment of structures in Greencastle to support their operations.
Of those multitude, there are only two structures remaining — the Vandalia-Pennsylvania Railroad freight depot on the south side and the old Big Four-New York Central Railroad passenger station on the north side remain in Greencastle. The latter is currently used by CSX for its maintenance operations.
Unfortunately, most of the railroad structures located in other Putnam communities have been lost to time as well. The annual meeting will be an opportunity to learn more about the efforts to save the remaining railroad heritage in the community.
In addition to securing the contractor to complete the assessment of the freight depot, HPS has been involved this past year in finding preservation solutions for other historic buildings such as the CSX Railroad depot and the creation of walking brochures for Roachdale, Russellville, Bainbridge and Cloverdale.
The mission of HPS is to promote interest in the history of Putnam County and to facilitate the identification and restoration of its structural heritage. Supporting and joining the organization is as quick as a click away at www.HeritagePreservationSociety.org.