Raising money, awareness for Big Four Depot

Passengers of time stepped into the Big Four Depot in Galion this weekend for a quick visit to the days when rail was the paramount form of travel.

They looked at black-and-white photographs, listened to history lessons and purchased gift items to take home as mementos during the second annual Depot Days event.

More than 250 people visited the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, according to Carol Kable, a volunteer for the Friends of the Galion Big Four Depot.

“We didn't raise a lot of money,” she said. “We just wanted to showcase the depot.”

That's because the building is one of the city's – and region's – prized gems.

The Big Four Depot opened in 1900 and served as division headquarters for the Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati and

St. Louis Railway, according to the Galion city website.

“Peak passenger usage occurred during and after World War I, when approximately 32 trains per day stopped there,” the website reads. “It was also a whistle stop for presidential candidates, including Al Smith (1928), Franklin Roosevelt (1932), Dwight Eisenhower (1952) and Richard Nixon (1952). The depot officially closed its doors in 1969 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.”

The city acquired the land in 2000 and has been slowly renovating it ever since.

The Friends of the Big Four is a nonprofit foundation that assists with fundraising and other efforts for the historic structure.

“We're the support advocacy group,” Kable said. “We do all the grunt work.”

The friends raised about $300 during Saturday's event, and will continue accepting donations throughout the year.

One of their primary financial concerns right now is replacing a pair of stained-glass windows on the building's front that have been missing for years.

Estimates for that project are about $3,600. So far, the friends have raised a little more than $1,000.

Events like Saturday's are helpful for bringing in some donations, but raising money isn't always the primary goal.

“It's more to get the community to rally around it,” Kable said. “There's good things to come, but we need their support.”

The organization is always taking on new members, and accepts donations all year long.

To learn more, contact Friends of the Big Four Depot at 419-468-2944 or 419617-9182. ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508

Twitter: @zachtuggle