by Bernard Rudberg
ANNUAL MEETING
Hopewell Depot Restoration Inc.
Annual meeting and election of officers.
7:30 PM Wednesday 18 April 2007
East Fishkill Community Center
Located off Rte. 82 in the center of Hopewell Junction
between the RR overpass and the Rte.376 traffic light across from McHoul's.
This will be our annual election of officers and a report on depot work progress. Most of the work has been done by a very small dedicated group. The depot project is sadly in need of help from Saturday work to fund raising and publicity.
Depot Progress
Over the past year the depot has had some major work done. The sill beams and floor joists have all been replaced with new lumber. The walls have been straightened and braced. Both bay windows have been framed and are awaiting windows. The Town of East Fishkill supplied much of the funding for this work. With the recent change in administration and
audits, the Town has withdrawn major financial support for the depot. In October 2006 the Town did supply a new green tarp for the roof to keep out the winter weather. The next big project will be rebuilding the roof structure. With completion of roof work the building will
be safe and dry to work inside.
Rail Trail
The new Dutchess County Rail Trail planning is well under way and it includes the Hopewell Junction depot. It will be built along the former Maybrook rail line from Poughkeepsie to Hopewell Junction. The Hopewell Junction depot is designated as the Trail Head. At recent
public meetings we have learned that there is money in the County budget for a new roof on the depot. Also included are items such as a parking area, landscaping and road access for the depot area. Construction on parts of the Rail Trail will begin in 2007.
We will present the latest version of the plans at the annual meeting. We have invited some of the Rail Trail planners to the meeting but they declined stating that the plans are not complete yet. There are still issues with MTA Metro North ownership of the land surrounding the
depot. In addition the Town of East Fishkill must sort out the road access.
With only a small group of volunteers actually working, depot progress is slow.
The more volunteer labor we get, the farther the money will go toward future restoration. In the coming weeks we will be asking for volunteer time and effort to make the best use of the county financial support. Keep an eye out for E-Mail notes and/or snail mail letters for
specific projects. We will need all the volunteer help we can get.
Hopewell Junction is rich in railroad history but much of it is in danger of being lost forever. We must preserve as much as possible for future generations.
Bernie Rudberg President Hopewell Depot Restoration Inc.
Hopewell Depot Restoration Inc.
Annual meeting and election of officers.
7:30 PM Wednesday 18 April 2007
East Fishkill Community Center
Located off Rte. 82 in the center of Hopewell Junction
between the RR overpass and the Rte.376 traffic light across from McHoul's.
This will be our annual election of officers and a report on depot work progress. Most of the work has been done by a very small dedicated group. The depot project is sadly in need of help from Saturday work to fund raising and publicity.
Depot Progress
Over the past year the depot has had some major work done. The sill beams and floor joists have all been replaced with new lumber. The walls have been straightened and braced. Both bay windows have been framed and are awaiting windows. The Town of East Fishkill supplied much of the funding for this work. With the recent change in administration and
audits, the Town has withdrawn major financial support for the depot. In October 2006 the Town did supply a new green tarp for the roof to keep out the winter weather. The next big project will be rebuilding the roof structure. With completion of roof work the building will
be safe and dry to work inside.
Rail Trail
The new Dutchess County Rail Trail planning is well under way and it includes the Hopewell Junction depot. It will be built along the former Maybrook rail line from Poughkeepsie to Hopewell Junction. The Hopewell Junction depot is designated as the Trail Head. At recent
public meetings we have learned that there is money in the County budget for a new roof on the depot. Also included are items such as a parking area, landscaping and road access for the depot area. Construction on parts of the Rail Trail will begin in 2007.
We will present the latest version of the plans at the annual meeting. We have invited some of the Rail Trail planners to the meeting but they declined stating that the plans are not complete yet. There are still issues with MTA Metro North ownership of the land surrounding the
depot. In addition the Town of East Fishkill must sort out the road access.
With only a small group of volunteers actually working, depot progress is slow.
The more volunteer labor we get, the farther the money will go toward future restoration. In the coming weeks we will be asking for volunteer time and effort to make the best use of the county financial support. Keep an eye out for E-Mail notes and/or snail mail letters for
specific projects. We will need all the volunteer help we can get.
Hopewell Junction is rich in railroad history but much of it is in danger of being lost forever. We must preserve as much as possible for future generations.
Bernie Rudberg President Hopewell Depot Restoration Inc.
