(Ely, NV) Maintaining a building that is over one hundred years old is an ongoing project. The Freight Building on the grounds of the East Ely Railroad Depot sees the effects of weather and wear. A local group stepped in to remedy the situation with a little planning, hard work, and a little paint.
On the north side of the building, the vertical boards under the walkway received significant damage from the snow that rests against them in the harsh winters of eastern Nevada. These snow deposits are the last to melt and these boards receive the most damage. To maintain the upkept appearance of the building, museum staff undertook the project to replace the weathered and warped boards this summer. Staff repaired the entire north side utilizing material we already had on hand. “Joel Jensen (Building Restoration Specialist) has done a remarkable job improving this portion of the building showing the State’s commitment to maintain the historic buildings,” said Sean Pitts, director of the museum.
Volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints painting the new boards on the Freight Building at the Nevada Northern Railroad.
Once the boards were in place a group of volunteers from the Young Single Adult Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints volunteered to complete the painting. They arranged to have the necessary equipment and everything necessary. More than a dozen volunteers scraped and painted the entire area. After a 14-hour effort, the work was complete, saving the museum staff time that would have taken weeks with the small staff. “This demonstrates the support of the community for the State’s effort in Ely, we’re so appreciative,” Mr. Pitts added.
About the Nevada State East Ely Depot
The East Ely Depot, built in 1907, is a fully restored train depot. The visitor’s experience allows them to travel in time through the general offices of the railroad, including train dispatchers, crew chiefs, finance, medical, management, and the company President. Adjacent to the Depot, the Nevada Northern Railway Foundation provides guided tours of the rail yards, shops and facilities of the railroad.
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