Hi friends,

Well, the Jim Thorpe saga goes forward, but we now have another rail preservation to address with Carbon County, PA's commissioners. See link.

http://www.tnonline.com/online/localnews/04thursday/carbon.html

After many years of being reduced to nothing but a field with three tracks left (all active), the county os planning to redevelop the former Lehigh Valley Packerton Yard. This yard was the Valley's main classification yard for coal movements headed east.

There is nothing left except the very solid, very historic stores building. This large brick structure is among the oldest rail shop buildings left in PA, and is an architectural classic, from its arch windows to unique multi-vaulted ceilings.

Hopefully, Carbon County will see fit to rehab this structure as the site's centerpiece.

Here is an image from the Library of Congress site.

Rob

Rob,

Hats off to you and your efforts in helping preserve some great treasures in a great place. I will send email in support of this building.

Tom Gears

Well, if you visit the following website http://www.carbonecon.com the local Carbon County Economic Development website, the proposals for the development show that the store house would be removed.

Since this is only a proposal, it is not written in stone yet........

Walter

Hi Walter,

I checked the site but couldn't find the proposal you mention.

However, opening eyes to the preservation challenges is never easy. I see this as an opportunity, but not a slam dunk by any means.

Any building still standing (and some that aren't) is an opportunity. As far as rail relics go, northeastern PA is being robbed of its remaining heritage sites at an increasing pace.

Certainly, there have been victores of late, too (the stone LVRR roundhouse in White Haven comes to mind).

But big railroad buildings in the area are troubled... you lost the roundhouse in Kingston, the station in Delano, the roundhouse in Bethlehem and you have the Pen Argyl shops coming down, the Saucon engine terminal recently butchered and more threats appear monthly.

The LV stores building is a gem and a good opportunity for reuse.

There's also the matter of the ancient stone Beaver Meadows back shop and erecting shop in Weatherly, which I beleive to be one of the three oldest locomotive manufacturing shops still standing in the US. It is in private hands, but has been in and out of sale.

In any case, I think it is important to sound the trumpet and show that preservation is not only feasible, but the best option.

Rob