The long-neglected P&LE passenger station at Mill Street and Neville Way was built by the firm of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, successors of Henry Hobson Richardson, and completed in the spring or summer of 1896. The station, a valuable example of Richardson Romanesque architecture, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (79002156) in 1978, but sadly has been exposed to the elements for years due to a deteriorating roof. The CCDF purchased the station to restore the building for use by the community for events. It will feature a cafe catering to travelers on the Ohio River Greenway Trail, which will run alongside the completed station. Sales from the cafe will allow the station to be self-sustaining, once complete.
THE RESTORED BUILDING SERVES A THREE-FOLD GOAL
1. It honors the past, preserving a significant example of architectural design, and a symbol of another vibrant time in our town's past.
2. It serves the present, as a gathering place and a point of pride and identity, offering community-making opportunities as a place for residents to gather.
3. It looks to the future, standing as an affirmation of what is possible with vision and cooperation, it will serve as a catalyst for hope.