Editor's Note: On October 27, the Town of Concord and the MBTA were awarded a citation by the Massachusetts Historical Commission for the recent splendid work on the West Concord Depot. But what has not been told until now is that this is the second time this building's restoration has been given the same award. In 1990, a citizens' group was given the same award for historic preservation. Around that same time, they also placed the building on the National Register of Historic Places.
Much of what you see at the station -- inside and out -- was put in place or preserved by this group. It is only due to their efforts (about which you will read below) that the current restoration had so much of the original historic fabric to work with. Without the 1990 award-winning project, there would have been no recent restoration of the Depot and therefore no second award. There is ample reason for us to have great pride in everyone's combined accomplishments... bravo to all!
We should take this situation as a warning about how important it is to hold onto the facts of our own history... how quickly it can evaporate from living memory, even though most of the players are still alive and dwelling in Concord. It's for this reason that The Concord Magazine Blog asked Mari Weinberg, the 1990-award restoration chair, to make us all aware of how the West Concord Depot fits into the long Concord tradition of citizen-driven historic preservation.
October 29, 2009: A few days ago I attended a regional meeting regarding our
Fitchberg Rail line. The West Concord Depot was used as an example of a positive process.
When I heard them use the West Concord Depot (and included it in the minutes) as an
example of "collaborative citizen participation process" I thought I'd share
what actually happened (back in the last century!) in the 1980's. For two years there was no collaboration with our Town; which is why Barbara Ramsey, Lou Hills and I were desperate and went directly to
the Governor's office for help. Then things began to happen... eventually, in the end, yes, our
Town totally supported the
project... but it took 3 years!!!
I know that the late Barbara Ramsey who worked tirelessly -- along with Lou Hills -- to put the WC Depot on the National Register of Historic Places would be so proud. Their hard work was not in vain. I don't know if Lou Hills is aware of this latest award given to the West Concord Depot, but I believe he would agree with me that we three, who were so graciously honored with this award in 1990 at a special evening reception at the State House, are so very pleased to have the care given to preserve the West Concord Depot acknowledged and honored once again!
In 1990, West Concord residents Lou Hills, Barbara Ramsey, and I received the exact same award -- The 1990 Mass. Historical Commission Award as a "major grass roots effort to save the WC Depot from abandonment, disrepair, or drastic alteration...." A Concord Journal article on May 10,1990 stated: "Ten awards are being presented throughout Massachusetts this year... however... the award to the West Concord trio... is the only one being given to a grass-roots effort to save a public building for public use." Then it was just the citizens who worked to preserve a building that had been overlooked and neglected for so long. Along the way, we successfully convinced the MBTA to re-purchase the building to secure its role as a public train station. We submitted to them the now-present parking lot lights (rejecting the galvanized steel flood lights previously accepted by the Town), and reduced their energy needs, saving the Town thousands of dollars in power expenses.
We submitted to the MBTA the actual design and fabrication details of the inter-track fence in place today, after refusing to accept the original galvanized chain link design approved by the Town. We "nicely" insisted that a concrete ramp with galvanized railings and no cover was not acceptable as a handicap ramp to the train; upon request from the MBTA, researched the style of what is there today, drew up the new interior plan to incorporate the required handicap bathroom in a more pleasing design. We found new lighting for the interior space, benches for the commuters, gathered donations from Concord citizens and businesses for the round "community table" that still sits in the corner inside the station. We found the original plans for the Depot, discovered the original missing door in the basement that opened up the space once again to the Junction Park side. We submitted all the interior details to the MBTA. we worked with our State Senator's office to create the new lease with opening hours that benefit the commuters.
In the past two weeks I've received personal "congratulations" relating to the recent 2009 Mass. Historic Preservation award our little West Concord Depot has received from the State. I want to say to everyone how very happy I am to see it receive such love and care, and acknowledged importance as a vital public train station. It's wonderful to see so many efforts create something positive.
Photos: Taken before the recent restoration began. The brick facade erected by a tenant protected the original siding for decades, so it could be restored and seen now. ©Rich Stevenson
