Re: (rshsdepot) East Williston NY

["seth bramson" <sbramson_@_bellsouth.net>]

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Dent" <jdent1_@_optonline.net>
To: "RSHS List" <rshsdepot_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 1:44 PM
Subject: (rshsdepot) East Williston NY


> I asked Dave Morrison if he knew why the depot was demolished.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Dave 35
> Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 12:15 PM
> Subject: East Williston Station
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> The building hasn't been used in several years and was neglected by the
> LIRR.  It fell into such a state of disrepaired that it was deemed unsafe
> and beyond restoration.  Of course, with the right amount of money any
> building can be restored, but neither the LIRR nor the Village was willing
> to step up to the plate.
>
> Thus a chapter in LIRR history ended today.

>>>Thanks, Dave.
Part of the problem, my friends, is this:
the RR DOESN'T tear down the building, but nobody in the area ("nobody"
being the collective term for individuals and/or local historical societies)
(as Dave noted) steps up to the plate.

Two PERFECT examples here in the scumshine state:
the people of Boca Raton (built by the famed architect Addison Mizner)
realized that the FEC depot was deterioriating and finally got together,
raised the money and bought it.  It serves today as a marvelous gathering
spot and community center, and, so I keep being told, an eventual RR museum;

the SCHMUCKS of Daytona Beach watched their stunningly beautiful FEC depot
deteriorate and deteriorate and did NOTHING.  The FEC had no choice but to
tear it down AFTER it was declared unsafe because said morons in Daytona did
NOTHING.  AFTER the demolition there was a hue and cry and I went up and
made it clear to them that it was their own fault and that their doing
exactly nothing was the exact opposite of what Boca Raton had done and that,
had they acted in a positive and proactive manner, had benefits, fund
raisers and put together an action committee they could have saved the
station.

Today, each community must take responsibility for it's own insightfulness
and foresight OR for it's own stupidity.


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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