ENOSBURGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY BEGINS RAISING MONEY FOR BUILDING FACELIFT
A former Enosburg resident has helped kick off the Enosburgh Historical Society’s capital campaign by offering to match up to $5,000 in community donations to help with repairs to the 1871 Freight Depot in the Enosburg Falls.
“I want to do this in memory of my parents, Wilbur and Barbara Wright,” said Glen Wright, of Dunnellon, Florida, a Lifetime Enosburgh Historical member. “The Enosburgh Historical Society meant a lot to them.”
“We are beyond thrilled to have received this generous gift,” said Cindy Weed, Enosburgh Historical Society president. “In these trying times, Glen’s call was an uplifting dose of fresh air. After hearing about Wright’s generous offer, several people have already offered to donate to the project.”
The Freight Depot, in the care of the Enosburgh Historical Society, a 501(C) (3) non-profit, is home to the Enosburgh Historical Museum. It houses Enosburgh antiques and artifacts, historical records, genealogies, maps, provides a meeting space for Historical Society programs, and is open for public tours in non-pandemic times. The 130-year-old structure needs extensive work on the large overhanging eaves as well as a new shingle roof. The project is slated to cost about $40,000.
The Freight Depot is listed on the Vermont State Register of Historic Places. They describe it as a “well-preserved example of a one and one-half story, 3x 2 bay, gable roof, wood frame railroad freight depot. Because it is so little altered, the Central Vermont Railroad Freight Depot in Enosburg Falls stands as one of the best representatives of the era. It displays open eaves, exposed rafters, plain cornice, and prominent overhang with eaves, front-loading platforms, entrances with a vertical board door, and multi-pane transoms on the north, trackside elevation. The south street elevation displays a pair of loading bays without platforms while a paneled door, 2/2 windows, and an exterior end brick chimney are on the west elevation.” The Depot is also eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“When the repairs are completed, the building will be in structurally sound for decades,” Weed added.
