Articles Anout the Depot Museum
Rennovation Grant
Excerpts from articles published in the Nevada County Picayune:
- City Digs into Municipal Clerks, November 24, 1999
Karen Ward changed the topic to a booklet for the depot museum.
She said TEA-21 grant information concerning the depot was delivered to Little Rock in the form of a booklet.
Jon Chadwell, the new executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, helped Ward, as he had some something similar at Camden, where he held the post of EDO.
If approved, the city could receive a grant for $300,000.
- Note: Karen Ward wrote the grant proposal.
- Funding For Museum OK'd, March 1, 2000
The Arkansas State Highway Commission has approved funding through the Arkansas Transportation Enhancement Program for the Prescott Depot Museum Restoration Project, according to commissioner Mary P. 'Prissy' Hickerson of Texarkana.
"The project will provide funds for the renovation and restoration of the Missouri Pacific Depot that was built in 1912," Hickerson said. The project has been approved for federal funds in the amount of $166,000.
The project is one of 82 projects statewide, recently approved by the commission for funding. The Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) of 1998 included funding for projects such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, landscaping, scenic highway development and historic preservation. These funds, which require a 20% local match, cannot be used for traditional highway improvement projects.
"The Arkansas Transportation Enhancement Program enables the department to make federal enhancement funding available to city, county and other government entities for projects of their choosing," Hickerson said. "This time, the commission received requests totaling $26 million in federal funds for enhancement projects, but we only had about $13 million in funding available. It was a difficult decision," she said.
- City Council Approves Work On Road, March 29, 2000
A TEA-21 grant has been approved for Prescott's Depot Museum, he said, in the amount of $166,000. This money will be used to renovate the museum.
- Prescott City Council Hears Animal Proposal, January 3, 2001
The grant to renovate the depot museum has been approved in the amount of $120,000, with the city to kick in an additional $40,000.
In addition, the city will be required to pay the architect's fee and survey costs.
This, he said, is a fast-track project and must be ready for bids by April 2001 and be under construction by August. But, it can be done in phases, he pointed out, as the overall costs will exceed the amount of the grant.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department wants the exterior work done first, and this will be the case as the grant is partially through the AHTD.
If the first grant doesn't cover all the costs, he said, the EDO will apply for another grant to complete the job. Getting the second grant should be easier as grant providers don't like seeing projects left uncompleted.
The depot is on the National Registry of Historic Places, Chadwell told the council, and this organization must sign off on the project.
- Council Adds Funds For Parks In 2001 Budget, January 24, 2001
The council passed four resolutions. Two dealt with the Depot Museum. One was to accept the 80-20 grant from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, with the other to hire French Architects of Hot Springs to draw up the plans.
- $9 Million City Budget Approved, January 31, 2001
The economic development budget is $240,000 for 2001. This amount had originally been set at $265,000, but $25,000 was transferred to the parks department for improvements in the city's parks.
This doubled the parks budget from the sales tax to $50,000.
The city's beautification committee will get $60,000 of this money, while the Main Street program gets $30,000. Another $20,000 was set aside as matching funds for a grant for the restoration of the Depot Museum.
- New Pay Period Approved For Sheriff's Deputies, March 21, 2001
In other business, JPs heard an update from Prescott-Nevada Economic Development Office director Jon Chadwell.
Chadwell told JPs of the proposed plans on the Depot Museum restoration.
He requested permission to have the museum operate from the former health building on the grounds of the now defunct Nevada County Hospital.
JPs approved of this move, though the building will not be able to store and display all the items currently on display.
Chadwell said it could take up to nine months to restore the museum, but it was understood if an industrial or business prospect was interested in the purchasing the building during that same time period, the museum would be moved again.
- Council Hears Complaints About Flooding, March 28, 2001
Work is getting underway on the Railroad Depot Museum. Display items will be moved into the old Nevada County Health Unit, where they will be stored while the renovation work is done at the depot.
The preliminary plans have been approved by the Arkansas Historical Society, but the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, along with the Americans with Disabilities Association, must also sign off on the plan before work actually begins.
The idea, Chadwell said, is to keep the museum partly open with some displays available for public viewing.
- City Council Looking At House For Parks Office, May 30, 2001
Chadwell said the paperwork for the Railroad Depot Museum project has been completed and sent to Little Rock.
However, the Arkansas Highway Commission requires a 99-year lease on the land surrounding the depot. As it stands, the city owns the depot, while Union Pacific Railroad owns the land around it.
UP officials will agree to a 25 or 30 year lease, but want to charge the city $1,500 per year for it. The company also wants the money up front.
It would be cheaper, Chadwell said, for Prescott to buy the property. The land will be appraised, with the city then contacting UP to see if it will be willing to sell for the appraised value.
- Federal legislation key to hospital sale, July 19, 2001
Plans for the Depot Museum are in Little Rock and need to be approved before renovation work can begin.
- $9 million in grants obtained with help of Ecnomic Office, January 30, 2002
Packing up the exhibits at the Depot Museum began Tuesday, Jan. 22, with the move to be made soon so the depot can be renovated.
- Renovations underway at Depot Museum, February 20, 2002
There will be some differences, but visitors to the Prescott Depot Museum will soon be experiencing a taste of the historic past.
Renovations to the depot began about a week ago, according to Jon Chadwell, executive director for economic development for Prescott and Nevada County. The contractor for the job . Edie Construction from Malvern . has six months to complete the project.
Chadwell said a $199,300 grant from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department was awarded in 2000 and work has been ongoing to get started on the bricks and mortar part of the project.
French and Harris, a Hot Springs architecture firm, have worked on the project. Chadwell said Ricco Harris, a Prescott native, was familiar with other depots around the state that have recently undergone renovation.
Camden's depot houses several offices, including the city's chamber of commerce. Arkadelphia recently completed work on its depot and Glenwood's Chamber of Commerce has moved that city's depot preparing to restore the building.
"I think a lot of towns realize how important their heritage and their history is," Chadwell said of the recent trend to save and renovate depots. "They're just trying to preserve it before it's too late."
At the local depot, the original brick pavers used for the sidewalks have been replaced with asphalt and concrete over the years. Chadwell said replacing those is one of the first parts of the project. Work has also started on the electrical system.
There will be some exterior work. Chadwell said the interior work will be extensive, but the goal will be to keep as much of the historic "flavor" of the building as possible. With that in mind, the ceilings will not be lowered and the original trim will be kept as much as possible.
There will, of course, be some necessary changes. Handicapped restrooms will be added and the building will be made handicap accessible. That includes a wheelchair ramp at the rear of the building in the area of the loading dock, which will also be restored.
Another of the additions is a community room. Chadwell said the room will be open for community functions, including educational functions for students.
The depot has housed a museum for several years, Chadwell said.
Chadwell said the items have been moved and thanked several city workers who pitched in during their time off to help move the museum pieces.
- Council discussed fire station; what to do about stray dogs, July 24, 2002
Chadwell said the depot museum restoration project is underway. He said furniture has been refinished and cabinets added.
Chadwell said an original wall from the building would be used possibly in the conference room.
- Work almost done on museum, easements needed, September 25, 2002
Work on the Depot Museum will soon be done, according to Jon Chadwell.
Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, told the Prescott City Council, at its regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 16, there is some good news concerning the museum project . money left over.
He said it was surprising, but the project came in under budget leaving the city with $3,000 to $4,000 extra. However, these funds can only be spent on the museum.
Chadwell suggested the city look into the price of a security system for the facility.
When the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department was informed of the leftover funds, Chadwell was told to "spend them" or the money would be returned to the federal government and be spent elsewhere.
In fact, more was done on the project than originally planned. Commercial tile was installed, and other floors will be stained in back of the building. The air conditioning unit was also fenced in.
Meanwhile, Chadwell will be checking into the price of security systems to see if the remaining funds will cover the cost of a system.
In the next few weeks, he said, a "VIP" tour will be scheduled to let people see what the structure looks like.
Following the tour, boxes will be moved back in and the displays set back up so the museum can be reopened to the general public.
-
Construction on the Depot Museum is done, with the last pay voucher being submitted.
He said the city received $164,000 in grant money for the project, while the city had to put up $42,000 for matching funds.
The Depot board of directors toured the renovated facility, and currently in the midst of reorganizing and finding a new curator.
Under terms of the grants, the museum must remain open 37.5 hours a week to the public.
Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor named Karen Ward to represent the city on the museum board.
. . .
A parking lot will be laid at the Depot Museum, with concrete preferred, he said. However, the problem will be keeping tractor-trailer rigs from parking on it. Otherwise, the lot will be in constant need of repair.
Other Funding for the Depot Museum
- Tri-Service Club, April 28, 1999
Tri-Service met Thursday, April 15, in the lovely home of Pat Brannon with hostesses Vickie Reeves and Prissy Traczewitz.
During this meeting the Tri-Service Club allocated funds to the Chamber of Commerce, Depot Museum, SWADC Literacy Program, Nevada County Day Service Center, Prescott Middle School, Prescott Middle school Art Program, Nevada County Health Unit, Nevada County Weather Center, Presbyterian Pre-School, FBLA, Nevada County Health Alliance and Prescott Elementary School.
A total of $4,100 was given.
- CD Of County History Can Be Ordered Now, May 16, 2001
The Nevada County Depot Museum is releasing a computer CD-ROM, containing the first edition of its "History of Nevada County" project. The CD includes articles, cemetery surveys and digitized photographs. The release is in association with the Prescott Community Freenet Association, whose PCFA.ORG Internet server is the source of the material. All content can be viewed through a web browser. [Click link for entire article]
History of the Depot Museum
- Depot Celebrates 85th Birthday, July 17, 1996
Prescott's old Missouri Pacific Railroad depot turns 85 years old this month. It has been the Depot Museum for 20 years, with tourists coming from across the nation to visit. [Click link for entire article]
- Teeter honored for 35 years of service, July 25, 2001
For nearly 35 years John Teeter has been gathering weather information for the Shreveport, La. office of the National Weather Service. [Click link for entire article]
- Teeter honored for 35-years of service, August 1, 2001
For the past 35 years, John Teeter has been providing weather information to the National Weather Service from Prescott. [Click link for entire article]
Articles from the Nevada County Picayune copyright ©1981-2000 by Ragsdale Printing Company and
are used by permission of John and Betty Ragsdale and the Prescott Community Freenet Association.
|
