The classic two-track wooden depot at Canaan, Ct, serving the Housatonic RR (ex-NH), built in 1872 and the oldest depot in Connecticut, burned early Saturday morning. No confirmation how severe the loss is, but reports make the damage sound severe. The Housatonic still had offices in the building, and they have been displaced. Freight service has not been interrupted.

More at www.railpace.com/hotnews .

Hartford Courant article
lner4472@bcpl.net

More, including photos, at link below.

Canaan Station Fire photos
lner4472@bcpl.net

> More, including photos, at link below.

Dare I ask, but is there any news about whether or not any of the building is salvagable, or if there is any possibility of rebuilding/ replication? This just makes me sick. What a loss, what a loss.......

T.J.G.


Port Huron Museum
peremarquette@hotmail.com

For those of you who have never visited the station in Cannan,I'm sure you would have felt comfortable there. It was a great old building.Rest in Peace.

Brian

bhebert@rypn.org

> Dare I ask, but is there any news about
> whether or not any of the building is
> salvagable, or if there is any possibility
> of rebuilding/ replication?

*Too early to tell for sure. Further reports from the Hartford Courant indicate that the local firefighters did a remarkable job in saving what they did, thanks to a pre-existing attack plan (basically, they had specifically rehearsed how to fight a fire in this historic property). I am led to believe that about 40% of the original building is salvageable. There is certainly impetus and motivation to rebuild, but a great deal will depend on the ugly side we don't see--insurance, ownership, leases, and all that complexity. Another issue--do you rebuild according to the old plans, or do you rebuild in the old style but improve the building to new electrical codes, etc., thus rendering it non-historic?

Sadly, this morning's news is that an arson investigation team has been called in.

And you thought the decision to fire a steamer or not was tough......

Sunday Courant article
lner4472@bcpl.net

Sort off the subject, but does anybody know what's happening with the Pere Marquette depot in Saginaw?

Railway Preservation News
hkading@rypn.org

Here is more on the history of the Canaan depot.

Canaan Depot History
bobyar2001@yahoo.com

http://www.trainweb.org/rshs/GRS%20-%20Cannan.htm
bobyar2001@yahoo.com

http://www.trainweb.org/rshs/GRS%20-%20Cannan.htm

http://www.trainweb.org/rshs/GRS%20-%20Cannan.htm
jdent@erols.com

My heart is just breaking over this one. I rode the Housatonic's excursion passenger train (during its very brief life) from there to West Cornwall in October 1991. The trip along the Housatonic River was absolutely stunning, and the Canaan terminal was one of the most beautiful terminal buildings I had ever seen anywhere--with its diamond-track layout and its Russian Revivial detialing, it was a true gem, in the same class as North Conway and a handful of other really precious wooden depots. This is just too sad.

eledbetter@rypn.org

This reminds us that even with a well-trained local fire department, fire can get out of control in a very short time. I would urge anyone responsible for a historic structure to consider installing an automatic sprinkler system. They are not cheap, but 1-2 sprinklers will generally extinguish a fire, or contain it until help arrives.

This also applies to pole barns housing wooden rail cars. A dry system can be used if the building is unheated.

tmanz@afo.net