Special to The Leader

On Friday, December 4, at 9AM five sisters will be boarding the Amtrak in Beaumont, bound for New Orleans, in celebration of their live auction win at the Friends of the Orange Depot Boogie Woogie Train Gala on November 12 in Orange.

The eldest sister, Mary Guillot, 86, is a passionate volunteer on the committee to save the historic Southern Pacific Depot at Green Avenue in Orange. Mary said that their father, Robert Chandler, had worked for the railroad when they were growing up.

Two sisters, Nelda Pricer, 72, and Vicki Mazoch, 61, live in Beaumont, and the other three, Lera Dickey, 85, Ann Boyett, 81, and Mary reside in Orange. Mary thought the train trip would be a great reunion for the sisters.

When they arrive in New Orleans that night, they will be met by their niece and nephew at the station, and they will dine together.

The Friends of the Orange Depot gala raised about $50,000 for the renovation of the depot, due to the generosity of sponsors, live and silent auction bidders, and attendees. The organization expects to begin the construction on the depot in the spring. It will be used as a multi-functional facility and museum featuring the industries that made Orange boom in the last century. The Depot Museum is located at the apex of the Orange historical district and is expected to stimulate more tourism in the downtown area, once opened.