Citizens Fight for Texas Depot
Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad Depot in Cleburne, Tex.
Credit: Shane Hopkins
Mar. 12, 2002
Dear Preservation 911,
I am writing to you asking for help in getting broader support to save what remains of the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad Depot in Cleburne, Tex.
The depot was built in 1903 and mostly destroyed by fire in 1985. Only four walls remain of what was once one of five depots in a railroad town. Since 1994 we have been moving toward building a working railroad museum and restoring a 1919 steam locomotive, the Santa Fe No. 3417. For more information, visit www.santafe3417.org.
In October, the current owner of the depot purchased it at our request. Since then we have been in running battles with city officials and council members, including the mayor, who want to tear down this depot.
What we are requesting in this time of emergency is that e-mails supporting the depot's preservation be sent to the assistant city manager and to me. This will help city officials know that people nationwide as well as in their own backyard are watching. We have exhausted all avenues, and only a miracle will help now.
Help us if you can. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Shane Hopkins
Santa Fe No. 3417 Historical Foundation
E-mail the writer with advice, comments, or commiseration.
Got a 911 in your town? Send us an e-mail.
Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. To contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list.
The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.
