Train station will be tedious labor of love

Ray Martin Times Staff Members of the Hespeler Heritage Railway Station Association reconfirmed their belief in the project following a recent meeting with building professionals. Group spokesman Paul Langan said Monday, "our meeting on Friday was extremely positive." During a tour of the building, Dennis Vass, general manager of C. A. Ventin Architects, could not give a professional opinion on the Hespeler station, but did say that in his 30 years of experience he has yet to see a building that couldn't be saved. Those who toured the Hespeler station found a neglected hulk. The interior of the former freight hall has been charred by several fires, and cluttered with debris left behind by various users over the years. Meanwhile, the former office and passenger depot area still retain many of the original fixtures. The walls and ceilings still display ornately detailed pressed-tin plates, some of the built-in furnishings still remain as does some of the original woodwork. "There is no two ways about it," said Langan. "If we do go ahead its going to take a lot of work." In the next two or three weeks, the association hopes to receive a proposal from the local restoration architecture firm spelling out what their work on the project would cost. At the same time, the group is also pushing to complete the sale of the train station from CN. "We've been sitting around long enough," Langan said. "Let's get on with this thing." To date, the group has raised $3,000, which was originally earmarked to cover the legal costs surrounding the sale of the building and the lease of the land. This past week, the group has been given a break on its legal costs by a local lawyer and much of the money raised will now go to covering the lease and liability insurance on the property.