NEWS

“Pennsy Girls” Rally Community to Save Depot

A group of five women take the lead to save a deteriorated Decatur landmark.

Taking the Lead

Repurposing old train depot might seem like a daunting task. Not to a group of five intrepid friends from Decatur, who rallied to save the city’s long-vacant Pennsylvania Train Station and Depot. The self-titled Pennsy Girls worked with the city, owner of the landmark, to form a loosely structured committee in May 2014 to brainstorm a rehab and re-use plan for the beloved but run-down landmark.

The 1902 brick Classical Revival station was originally constructed as the Pennsylvania Railroad passenger station and freight depot. As transportation shifted to cars and trucks after WWII, the old station slowly become obsolete, closing for good in 1961.

Many years later, standing in the vacant lobby where service men set off to war, young newlyweds embarked on their honeymoons, and people welcomed visiting relatives and friends, members of the group pondered how they could allow this heritage to disappear.

Estimates determined it would cost $100,000 to make the building usable again. The Pennsy Girls knew a bake sale would not suffice! By the spring of 2015, the Pennsy Girls raised half the cost of a new roof and the city covered the rest.

The initial success spurred additional investment, including grants from Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Adams County Community Foundation, the Porter Foundation, and individual donations of time and money. The Pennsy Girls recruited in-kind donations of labor and materials friends and family to meet matching grant requirements. To save money, the city used laborers from the local Community Correctional program to clean out the interior.

 

Decatur Pennsy Depot ticket window, before restoration.
Decatur Pennsy Depot ticket window after restoration.

Local restoration contractor Limberlost Construction of Geneva completed rehab of the old depot, renovating neglected interior spaces and installing a new kitchen and handicap baths.  Workers reconditioned original wood double-hung sash windows and added attic insulation to improve energy efficiency. New heating and cooling units, updated electric systems, and modern plumbing are tucked out of view in the basement.

Early in the process, Indiana Landmarks staff provided technical support and financial advice. A grant from our Partners in Preservation program is helping nominate the depot to the National Register of Historic Places, with official listing anticipated early in 2017. “The staff at Indiana Landmarks was instrumental, giving encouragement and sound advice in the rehab process when we needed it the most,” says Cherienne Scherry, spokesperson for the Pennsy Girls.

Pennsy Girls, Decatur

The “Pennsy Girls” (left to right) Sue Robinson, Karen Baker, Suzy Fueling, Cherienne Scherry and Sandy Collier.

In late August, the Pennsy Girls hosted a community open house at the depot. The renovated Decatur Pennsy Depot provides community rental space for bridal showers, wedding rehearsals, business meetings, class reunions and more. To learn more about the project or reserve the depot for your own event, contact the Decatur Parks & Recreation Department, 260-724-2520.

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