Painesville Depot draws admiration

We sometimes hear comments made about how a person looks good for his or her age. That same observation could apply to buildings. One building that, in our opinion, looks good at age 125 is the Painesville Depot.

The building at 475 Railroad St., which is now being operated as the Painesville Railroad Museum, was the center of attention on Aug. 4 during the Painesville Depot 125th Anniversary Celebration.

During the event, visitors had the chance to view the museum’s historical railroad displays and artifacts, watch model trains in operation, and enjoy live music and birthday cake.

The celebration also provided an opportunity for guests to admire the improvements made to the depot by the Western Reserve Railroad Association, which does business as the Painesville Railroad Museum. For more than 20 years, the group has worked diligently to restore and preserve this historic landmark. At this time, we’d like to shine the spotlight on this group for all it has accomplished since acquiring the depot in 1997.

We believe that the museum’s board has done a fine job of planning, overseeing and performing work to restore the building.

“In the last two or three years, we’ve made major strides in our restoration program, adding the two ADA restrooms,” said Tom Pescha, vice president of the association, in a previous News-Herald story.

“We finished dry walling all the walls and ceiling, we added chandeliers of the time period, we rebuilt all the windows in the caboose area, and we’ve done major work in the Express Room.”

While the museum board members have exhibited their vision and know-how throughout many aspects of the museum restoration, they’ve also developed their skills in another key area: fundraising.

For example, a $1,000 grant from Painesville Community Improvement Corp. was used to purchase new chandelier lights to complete restoration of the depot’s main lobby.

The Western Reserve Junior Service League, meanwhile, has awarded multiple grants to help the Painesville Railroad Museum.

According to information from previous News-Herald stories or the museum’s website, these allocations include:

• A $3,000 grant was used to purchase a new information technology station.

• A $1,420 grant was used by the museum complete the dry wall finishing of the main lobby ceiling.

• A grant for about $2,268 funded the purchase of new folding tables of the same size.

Pescha explained that the previous tables were very old, all different sizes and not very sturdy. The tables are essential for day-to-day operations and are used for dinners and train shows at the museum.

Clearly, area civic and community organizations that offer grants are seeing the value of helping to preserve one of Painesville’s great historical buildings.

Constructed in 1893 by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, the depot featured sandstone walls, a slate roof, red oak and marble interior, and hanging chandeliers, according to the Ohio Historical Marker outside the building.

“It was considered the jewel of Painesville, “the marker states.

Amid a series of railroad mergers, the depot served as a rail passenger station until 1971, when Amtrak was formed.

The building then spent about 17 years as a Greyhound Bus station, and was poised for a new incarnation when it was purchased by entrepreneur Ed Dunlap in 1993. But by 1997, Dunlap scrapped his plans to turn the building into a restaurant, which set the stage for the Western Reserve Railroad Association to take ownership of the depot.

The association not only is dedicated to restoring the Painesville Depot, but also preserving railroad history and promoting model railroading through the museum it has established at the site.

The museum is a great place to visit for railroad enthusiasts like Stephen Jones of Painesville Township, who attending the depot’s 125th birthday celebration on Aug. 4. Jones, who was watching model train running at the museum, said he has enjoyed trains since he was a child.

For Sandy Lenihan of Concord Township, attending the Aug. 4 celebration marked her first visit to the depot-turnedmuseum. She was impressed by the building’s atmosphere and exhibits.

“Oh, I love it,” she said. “There’s so much history here.”

We believe that the Painesville Railroad Museum and the depot in which it operates are in good hands under the ownership and care of the Western Reserve Railroad Association.

Here’s hoping that the group keeps this building open and in great shape for many more years to come.