Reconstruction & Restoration of Depot has begun

September 10, 2007 - South Londonderry, Vermont.

The Friends of the West River Trail Inc. are pleased to announce the long-awaited start of the rehabilitation of the South Londonderry Depot located along VT Route 100.

As designed, the South Londonderry Depot Visitor Center will serve as a trailhead for the West River Trail, a gallery for artifacts of the historic West River Railroad, information center for the West River and West River Valley and a community gathering place.

Wright Construction Company Inc. of Mount Holly Vermont was recently awarded the contract for construction, funded by the VTrans Enhancement Grant Program, contributions from private foundations, corporations and individual supporters. Don Spruit, Senior Project Manager for Wright Construction, announced this week that the company will begin site work and demolition just after Labor Day and complete the project by February 2008.

According to architectural plans developed by Badger and Associates of Manchester Vermont to restore the historic West River Railroad Station exterior to circa 1936, the building’s one pitch addition is scheduled for demolition. Some of the second floor of the structure will also be removed before careful reconstruction begins, including patching and matching remaining historic architectural elements like overhang brackets now hidden beneath layers of previous remodeling and repair.

The total project cost is estimated at $478,000. The extent of interior rehabilitation that can be accomplished during this phase of construction will be determined by the success of ongoing fundraising to cover the required community contribution. You can help by sending your contribution to FWRT, P.O. Box 2086, South Londonderry, VT 05155. For more information contact Depot Project Manager Sharon Crossman, Crossman & Beattie, at 824.4554.