By: Kelly Arbor, Colfax Record Staff Writer
5:38 PM PST
Colfax Passenger Depot Restoration Project volunteers received
another honor Tuesday when the Placer County Board of Supervisors
issued a special commendation.
This was the second recent accolade for the Depot restoration
project. Last month, the Colfax Passenger Depot was one of seven
California projects to receive the prestigious Governor's Historic
Preservation Award.
And on Tuesday, the city of Colfax, the Placer-Sierra Railroad
Society, the Colfax Area Historical Society and the Colfax Depot
Management Committee were included in the board of supervisors'
commendation.
"I think it was wonderful of the supervisors to do that," said
Colfax Area Historical Society President Myrtle Findley, who is also
vice-chair of the Colfax Depot Management Committee. "It was hard work.
I'm so glad we were recognized."
The Depot project is expected to be completed next month, said Tony
Hesch, Depot project administrator. Colfax Mayor Sharon Gieras hopes a
certificate of occupancy will be issued by Jan. 18, the date of the
next monthly meeting of Placer County city and county elected
officials.
The Depot, built in 1905, will open after City Council has adopted
memorandums of understanding with the Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce
and the Colfax Area Historical Society, the building's tenants, said
City Councilman Josh Alpine.
The city has owned the property since the 1990s, when the Union
Pacific Railroad gave it the Depot, along with approximately an acre of
land, said Depot Project Manager Roger Staab.
Hesch, Gieras, Alpine, Staab and Findley were all in attendance at
the Placer County Administrative Center to receive the board's
commendation.
"The Colfax passenger train depot is striking, both in terms of its
history and architecture," said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz,
in his introductory remarks Tuesday. "It was an operational depot for
more than 70 years and now functions as an Amtrak passenger station.
The building is an example of the Southern Pacific Railroad 'Colonade'
style and is one of only a handful that remains."
"During the early 20th century, 98 percent of the travel between
cities in this country was done by train," Kranz added.
The old Depot housed the railroad ticket office, Wells Fargo and
Western Union offices, a baggage room, a saloon and a restaurant,
according to the board of supervisors' resolution.
The county board of supervisors commendation recognizes the Placer
Sierra Railroad Heritage Society for taking the lead in renovating the
interior, "while preserving the original quality of workmanship and
sense of time."
The city of Colfax contributed $75,000 to the restoration project
while the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures grant
program and the United Auburn Indian Community contributed $50,000
apiece.
The building needed a new cement foundation, Gieras said, and a
contractor was hired to move the 2,200-square-foot building from its
original crumbling foundation.
"They took that whole building and moved it where the lawn is now.
They jacked it up, moved it and moved it back over. It was incredible,"
Gieras added.
Staab said that foundation work was done approximately six years ago
at the restoration project's start. In the past two years, volunteers
have donated 5,000 hours to the interior restoration of the depot, he
pointed out.
The Colfax Depot, which already houses the historical society's
museum, will include a chamber of commerce office, a visitors' waiting
area and restrooms.
