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Thank you for support of train station preservation

To the editor:

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society, a 501 C (3) nonprofit organization, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank your wonderful mayor, Mrs. Deborah Bargo for all her help and influence in the preservation of the Lewistown Train Station.

The station was built in 1849, and is the oldest existing structure built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The building was saved from demolition when the PRRTHS purchased the building from Conrail in 1984. The PRRTHS, along with “The Lewistown Station Gang” and local volunteers, completely restored the station to its original state. It now serves as the PRRTHS Archive and Research Center, and Amtrak Station. The Amtrak room is manned daily by local volunteers during train arrival and departure times. Volunteers are required to be members of the PRRTHS Middle Division chapter which is the Lewistown chapter of the PRRTHS.

Maintenance on the site is ongoing and as with any historical building, it is an extremely delicate task. In the past 4 years, a new roof, fire suppression system, and alarm system have been installed and updated. The station was also showing signs of disrepair with bricks coming loose, and paint chipping and fading. The windows needed re-glazing and painting.

Enter Mayor Bargo, through a program called Paint Pennsylvania Beautiful. She and Jim Zubler, manager of Downtown Lewistown Inc., were able to secure a grant through Home Depot and Behr Paint for the repairs and painting of the station. Mayor Bargo spearheaded a group of volunteers from First United Methodist Church of Lewistown, Reedsville United Methodist Church and United Way.

The brick work was repaired, windows glazed, and all the trim, window sashes and lower half of the building was painted in the Pennsylvania Railroad “standard building paint.” A superb job was done by all. Thank you to all who participated in that effort. Thank you Mayor Bargo, and the great citizens of Lewistown for electing such a great community leader.

Mayor Bargo’s efforts prove that she is committed to preserving familiar standards and values that are slowly disappearing in central Pennsylvania and other parts of the country. Steady leadership in uncertain times, keeping conservative values strong and intact, one brick at time, is a stepping stone to future progress. She is a leader dedicated to preserving conservative values while working to build a better future.

Richard Ader

Vice president, PRRTHS

Lewistown Station Manager

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