Hello,
Included with this message below is an e-mail from Ellen Gatrell of the Fostoria (Ohio) Railroad Preservation Society. It is pretty self explanatory. I have worked over the years trying to help the FRPS obtain the tower. CSX never claimed it and now they want to tear it down. If there is anyone out there who could assist Ellen, me, and the FRPS in stopping this it would be greatly appreciated. Sharing a name of a contact person would be great. The tower had the first CTC system used in the country. I will send a plea to the NYCSHS also but they were pretty quiet in the past when made aware of the issues. I understand no one has funding for big rescues anymore but this structure should remain for historical reasons. If I am out of line posting this please accept my apologies. And really while the FRPS accepts money, what they first need is ownership of the tower and land or just the tower.
Thank you,
Jim K
Hello to all
Sorry, have not sent out emails for a long time. There is too much to do and not enough time. however, today was a day that was meant to happen.
Drove past the Jackson Street Tower or NYC Tower and saw a piece of lift equipment and car sitting on the property. Went and recycled aluminum cans at the junk yard and drove past the Tower to see what is happening. There was a box truck with the name Environmental Assurance Co. 317-636-8500 sitting beside the car. I drove up and asked what they were going to do. They were hired by CSX to remove the asbestos from the building which they believe will be torn down soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I advised them we believe CSX does NOT own the property even though they received "ownership" of the parcel from the Conrail split. (Seneca Co. did not have any tax record for the property years ago, which means CSX was NOT paying taxes on the property.)
After leaving the work force at the Tower property I called the Fostoria Mayor, Eric Keckler and advised him of the work to be done at the property. We have always wanted the city of Fostoria to purchase the property as they also own the property right beside the Tower and would also be able to receive Federal monies for the refurbishing of the building as we all know this was the first location for CTC to be used in 1927. The train board out of the tower is at the Smithsonian, Washington D.C. The Tower property is certain to be on the Register of National and HIstorical Places !!!!!! Cities can apply for this funding much easier than we could.
Let's see what happens and IF any of you receiving this email can help with this IMMEDIATELY, please do so. We cannot have CSX tear this down. FRPS has been wanting this to be part of Fostoria's rail history for 20 years. I will not go into why it did not happen but the past Law Director was not re-elected. Fostoria needs to have the NYC Tower saved and NOW !!!!!
Thanks !!!!
Ellen
