Lights, ceilings, and more for the Orange Train Depot
Published 10:42 am Wednesday, September 21, 2016
- Dawn Burleigh/The Orange Leader A worker demonstrates the pulley system in the windows in the Orange Train Depot during a tour to show the progress of restoration to the historical building. See more photos at http://photos.orangeleader.com/
By Dawn Burleigh
dawn.burleigh@orangeleader.com
Orange Train Depot, which had stood untouched for years, is showing new signs of life as restoration work continues.
As one drives past the station at night, lights now illuminate the outside.
Inside, the structure is showing many signs of progress in the restoration scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2016.
New ceilings, and lights are evident as one tours the structure.
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.
Friends of the Orange Depot, 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, is now searching for items depicting the Railroad, Lumber, Petro Chemical, and Shipbuilding Industries in Orange.
“We have storage units for storing such items for the museum portion of the building,” Carrie Woliver said. “We are looking for replicas and pictures from the eras as well.”
An engraved brick campaign continues for the depot, as the bricks will be the last installation of the project.
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.
“The bricks will be laid out in the back of the station between the building and the tracks,” Woliver said. “The ticket area will become the gift shop.”
Jack Elliott, of Jackbuilt in Orange and general Contractor for the project, said the restoration for a Queen Ann desk discovered in the ticket area will begin soon.
“He will have to rebuild drawers for it as they have been stolen over the years,” Woliver said. “We are fortunate to have Jack on this project as he is also a cabinet maker.”
A Denim & Diamonds gala benefit for the Historic Orange Depot will be held 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at VFW Post 8775 located at 5303 Hwy. 87 North in Orange.
