Save Historic Rail Station and Revitalize Our Town

Dear Friends,

We hope you were able to enjoy the Holidays!  We write to provide an update and invite you to our public meeting on January 23, 2014 to unveil and discuss the historic structure feasibility study of the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad’s (DL&W) Station in Nicholson.

This study, funded mainly in part with a PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant through the Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR), assessed the current physical condition of the station, as well as conducted a market analysis and possible options for future.  Facility Design & Development of Scranton and The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development, also of Scranton, worked on the study together with us.

Details about meeting are:  January 23, 2014 at 6:30 pm at the St. Patrick's Church Hall, Main & High Streets in Nicholson, PA  18446.  Light refreshments will be provided and parking available on High Street across from the main entrance of the Church.  Photo showing location available at www.nicholsonstation.org.

Quick background on how we got here:  the station was originally built by one of the DL&W’s predecessors, the Liggett’s Gap Railroad, in 1849.  With the completion of the Clarks Summit-Hallstead Cut-off in 1915, passenger service began from the then new brick and concrete station next to the then just completed Tunkhannock Viaduct, also known as the Nicholson Bridge.  After 1915, the original 1849 station handled only freight, even following the DL&W merger with the Erie Railroad (becoming the Erie Lackawanna Railroad or EL) in 1960.  Due to financial hardship, the EL permanently closed the station in 1971.  The station was sold in 1983 to a local business and in private use until we purchased the station in June 2012 with donations from individuals, businesses, and a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant.

The feasibility study is the next step towards rehabilitating the station and encouraging regional economic development.  Donations still needed.  Please spread the word.  Thank you for your continued support.

Look forward to seeing you on January 23.  Any questions, please let us know on josh@nicholsonheritage.org.

The Nicholson Heritage Association

Links:

• Project Webpage

Friends and Supporters:

Happy Fall!  The feasibility study is almost complete.  We should have a final report within the next several weeks.  We are excited to see the results to allow us to move forward with actual renovations.  A feasibility study is required in order to apply for state and federal funding.  Additionally, the completed study, thanks to a PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources grant through the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, will provide us with more detailed information about the station's condition, in order to give us a better understanding of how much work and funds are needed to complete the overall project.

Donations are still needed in order to cover the required match of state and federal funding, which varies by program.  Please spread the word of our work and efforts to rehabilitate the historic Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad station into a community and visitor's center and a gateway to the Viaduct Valley Way Scenic Byway.  Let's bring this 1849 treasure back to the former glory it once was.

Thank you for your support!

Links:

• News about Feasibility Study Kick-off