What to do with it?

The majority of the people in Washington County are interested in saving old historic buildings. In at least one instance, an old building was taken down, piece by piece, and stored in hopes that someday a loca­tion and funds to put it back together will be available. That is the old Tyson Log Cabin that was located near the Missouri River and con­structed over 100 years ago. The pieces are all numbered and ready to put back to­gether if a location can be found.

Today, we have infor­mation from the Blair Historic Preservation Alliance (BHPA) that another old historic building is available but again there is no place to put it and no funds to pre­serve it.

Progress has to happen in a community and some­times the historic buildings have to give way. This, is the case in the old 1880 freight railroad depot that is located between the former Blair Feed Mill, just west of 16th and State streets, and south of the Feed Mill next to the railroad tracks.

The Blair, Historical Preservation Alliance has learned that the Mathiesen Grain Company, the current owners of the old freight depot, is interested in finding a new home for the historic structure. The building must be moved to make room for a large grain storage structure next to the railroad tracks. If the building isn't moved, it must be torn down or used for a "practice burn" by area fire departments.

Have any ideas where the old building could be relo­cated? And if moved, how the funds could be acquired to fix up and maintain the depot? Right now the building is in poor repair. Construction persons have said the old building can be restored. But the funds to get the job done are presently non-existent.

Want to know more about he old building? There is a website prepared by Nathan Kramer of the BHPA. Take a look at: http://www.blairhistory.com/landmarks/depot/freight_depot.asp.

Suggestions are welcome and needs soon if the building is to be saved.