Train depot still in need of funding
Published 10:26 am Wednesday, July 27, 2016
- Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader Restoration work continues at the Orange Depot located at the corner of 11th Street and Green Ave. in Orange.
By Dawn Burleigh
dawn.burleigh@orangeleader.com
A building once neglected is showing new life as contractors continue restoration of the Orange Depot.
A groundbreaking ceremony in April kicked off the start of the work to breath new life into the building, and it shows.
Plans for the restoration of the historic landmark began in 2012 when Carrie Woliver, author of The Train Stopped in Orange, has worked on a plan for the train depot since seeing the station in its current state when she returned to Orange for a book-signing. J. Rob Clark with Architectural Alliance, Inc. of Beaumont said he could recall sitting in The Capistrano across the street drawing a picture of the depot in 1976. Clark is the architect involved with the plans and restoration of the depot. Friends of the Orange Depot is a non-profit organization founded by Woliver and her husband, Ron, for the purpose of raising funds for restoration to the depot as well as operating costs once the work is completed.
“Our contractor has been sending me pictures of the restoration and wow it is really shaping up,” Woliver said in an email. “On time to be completed in November!”
Funds are still needed to complete the restoration. The group has reached approximately 65-percent of the goal for brick sales at this time.
“There is room for more bricks,” Rose Simar, brick sales chairman, said. “The bricks will be the very last to be installed.”
Simar is also co-chair of the Denim and Diamonds Gala scheduled for November.
“Each year, we will hold a gala to help with the costs of maintenance and utilities,” Simar said. “The bricks sold are towards the restoration of the building.”
Contractors have assured Simar there is still plenty of room for more bricks.
One option for showing support for the depot is the Brick Program.
Friends of the Orange Depot are selling bricks for the depot. The bricks are available in two sizes, 4 x 8 for $50 and 8 x 8 for $100. Each brick can have a maximum of 16 characters per line with a limit of two lines for the smaller bricks and five lines for the larger bricks.
Visit www.friendsoftheorangedepot.org or email Rose Simar at RBSIMAR@GT.RR.COM for more information.
