NEW HAVEN, Vt. – The former Rutland Railroad depot in New Haven will begin the first leg of its journey to a new home in the city Jan. 12, the Addison County Independent reported. “Everything is looking good to go,” selectboard member Steve Dupoise told the Independent, noting that the town had obtained all the necessary state permits and hired flaggers for the operation. Last month, Dupoise signed the bill of sale transferring ownership of the building from the Vermont Department of Historic Preservation to the town of New Haven.
The 19th century depot, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places for nearly 50 years, is being moved because of its close proximity to the tracks, which presents a safety hazard for the expanded Ethan Allen passenger service to Burlington, Vt., expected to begin traveling through the town this summer, according to the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The brick station was completed in August 1868, replacing a wooden structure across the tracks, which became the freight house.
Since learning last winter that the building would need to be moved or demolished, local and state officials worked out a plan and secured funding to relocate the building to a town-owned lot on North Street. After this month’s move the depot will sit in the parking lot of the town office/library until a foundation can be poured nearby in the spring. Moving the station is expected to cost more than $600,000.
My thoughts exactly.
Something doesn’t fly here. If the station has been in existence since 1868 with continuous rail traffic, why does the addition of one passenger train to Burlington necessitate a relocation?