The Winamac Park Board has decided to take ownership of the Pulaski County Historical Society’s freight depot, but not its replica log cabin. The Historical Society offered the park board both buildings, as well as the caboose, in hopes the town could better utilize them.
Among the concerns park board members raised with the log cabin Thursday was the fact that it sits on county-owned land. “I think it’s actually a detriment to that area that is a safe haven for some activities that maybe wouldn’t occur if it wasn’t there,” added board member Jon Chapman. “I think it’s a neat structure. I think it’s a poor location for us to be able to keep its integrity.” Park Board President Courtney Poor suggested that ideally, the Historical Society could raise funds to move the structure to the Galbreath House property, where the Pulaski County Museum will eventually be located.
On the other hand, the historic freight depot sits on land the town already owns, making its acquisition a more logical move. The Iris Elm Garden Club will continue to use it for its monthly meetings, but the park board is also considering a few other ideas. These may include letting other nonprofits groups use it or renting it out to individuals. The park board will also need to decide whether to charge a fee, as well as who would be in charge of scheduling.
Poor also suggested seeing if groups would be interested in installing temporary displays in the depot, similar to the model trains that were there previously. “It would have to come to us if we’re going to take this over, but if someone has another type of display, perhaps the Boy Scouts would like to come up with something, similar to what they had,” Poor said. “It doesn’t have to be the same thing as a train, just something. So I would like to make it open to that.”
In addition to taking ownership of the depot, the park board also voted Thursday to cover the closing costs and other various fees that would be involved. However, board members decided not to take any action on the caboose, until Town Attorney Justin Schramm has the chance to check whether it’s technically considered part of the freight depot property or a separate structure with its own title.
Town council members have previously pointed out that they have the final say in the property acquisitions.
