Community Corner

Letter: Historic Station Renovation Efforts Moving Forward

Windsor Locks officials seeking help from residents and businesses in the effort.

 

Windsor Locks residents,

I wanted to communicate with you that the efforts to restore the historic station are moving forward. We are in ongoing discussions with Amtrak officials who have expressed their interest in seeing the station restored as either part of the commuter rail project or in some kind of support capacity. This restoration project will be a large undertaking but one . . . the Windsor Locks community is certainly capable of successfully completing. We will need the participation of residents and businesses alike to bring the station back to a productive use. We will be looking for your participation as a volunteer and hopefully a donor as well.

If you have a specific skill in marketing, fundraising, construction, or architecture that you would be willing to offer please let us know. If you would just like to help out with fundraisers or help keep the area around the station clean that would be most helpful. Please talk to your friends and neighbors and help get people excited about the project once again.

If you have any photos or videos of the historic train station or any memorabilia related to it we would certainly like to have an opportunity to utilize those assets in our effort.

We understand that some folks are a bit disenchanted that funds that had been raised by the defunct Preservation Association went to the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor. The Trolley Museum is a great family attraction and it certainly benefitted from the donation. Rather than dwell on the past, let's look to the future and recommit to restoring this beautiful building that has had such a prominent role in the community's history.

Since the historic station is on the National Register of Historic Places we believe we can qualify for a $200,000 State grant for historic preservation but it will need matching funds. So our initial capital campaign goal is $250,000. Can you help us reach that initial goal? Donations can be made out to the Town of Windsor Locks with Historic Train Station Restoration Project in the memo area and sent to 50 Church Street, Windsor Locks, CT 06096.

We also need to be clear that the historic train station project and the commuter rail project may move forward at different schedules but we will do our best to coordinate with Amtrak and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The Town received a $250,000 grant to plan for Transit Oriented Development in the historic train station area and this will help us come up with an overall plan for the area. We will keep you posted on any news related to the historic station preservation, as well as efforts to relocate the train platform back to the downtown area.

If you would like to help out then please send an e-mail to wleidc@sbcglobal.net or I can be reached by cell at 860-985-2083.

The hoped for rebirth of Windsor Locks Main Street is starting to take shape. Here is to a bright future!

Sincerely,

Patrick McMahon
Economic Development Consultant


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here