|
The Interurban 305 railcar is coming back home, literally, piece by piece. Corsicana city council members were informed at the end of Tuesday evenings meeting that City Attorney Terry Jacobson has set August 1, 2008, as the day the railcar will be loaded up and shipped back to Corsicana. According to Mayor C.L. Brown and Public Works Director Ron Lynch, the railcar will be placed next to the Corsicana Visitors Center and restoration will be completed over a period of time. Both city officials previously stated that when the railcar came back to Corsicana, finished or not, they did not want to have to move it anymore. The Interurban 305 railcar was originally found in a trailer park near Granbury where it was being used as a storage facility.
The Find Concerned individuals, including Corsicana native Ron Maxfield who is very knowledgeable when it comes to Interurban and Texas Electric Railway history, felt that the railcar deserved a better home and would be a great asset for the city as a tourist attraction. Maxfield helped out with the restoration process suggesting that the railcar be restored, as close to it’s original 1913 appearance. The railcar was sent to Florida in 2003 to Edwards Railcar Company, and was supposed to arrive back to Corsicana, fully restored, in the fall of 2004. It never happened. Several more years passed with no railcar for the city, although many pictures were sent, and visits were made to let city officials know and see the progress that was being made. The owner of Edwards Railcar, Steven Torrico, made many unfulfilled promises to officials as to when the railcar would be finished and returned. The Trip Finally, in the fall of 2007, Mayor Brown, Rick Hocker (owner of Black Jack McCanless Steakhouse and Saloon), and myself, took a trip to Montgomery, Alabama where Edwards Railcar presently called home, in order to see first hand the progress that was being made on the Interurban 305 railcar. Mayor Brown arrived ahead of Hocker and myself, and visited with Torrico who took the mayor on a tour of his facility, as well as showing him the railcar and what remained as far as restoration. Torrico did the same for us as well, and, as he had told Mayor Brown, the railcar would be finished and delivered toward the end of November or the first of December. The Wait Christmas came and went, as did New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Valentines, and Easter. The city still had no railcar. Torrico made even more empty promises … April, May, June, and July! And still, there was no good news to report. City officials made demands, and even hired someone to send back timely reports on progress that was supposed to be made. More ultimatums were sent to Torrico, and he still would not finish the railcar. So now, it’s finally come to this point. All of the money to restore the car was given to Torrico a long time ago. Some of the money was given up front to Torrico, and the rest was supposed to be paid in installments as to certain points during the restoration, and one final payment was to be made after the railcar was completed and returned to it’s home next to the Corsicana Visitors Center. At some point in time Torrico was able to convince Maxfield, Lynch, and present and past city officials that he always needed more money. The money was paid out prematurely. Torrico eventually came forward and admitted that he had underbid the project in the beginning. His admission come long after he had spent all of the money the city shelled out for the project, and he continually asked the city for more money. Torrico even admitted, after purchasing certain parts for the railcar, that he used those parts on another restoration project. Who’s At Fault Here? The fact is we can sit back in our easy chairs all day long and point fingers at one another as to whose to blame, but it’s still not going to bring back a completely finished railcar. Apparently, much to the disappointment of many, the railcar was not even included on the Corsicana Visionaries in Preservation Leadership Committee’s checklist that was voted on at the end of Monday’s meeting at the Corsicana Public Library. The closest item to the railcar was to research a downtown trolley system to provide easy access for tourists and residents, which that’s a start I guess. I think it’s a wonderful idea, not to mention the fact I’ve been wondering the same thing myself for many years now. But let’s stay focused on the railcar at the present time. What’s really going on with it? Is it really going to be finished? Will it actually be brought home to rest at the location designated by city officials? How much will it cost to finish the project? Where will the money come from? These are the questions that are on my mind. Not to figure out a way to force downtown building owners to paint their buildings a certain color, or how high their fence should be, or if a merchant can display their laundry equipment on the sidewalk for display. No. I’m trying to figure out a way, and even wonder if someone is going to step up to finish the Interurban 305 project. What’s The Answer To The Million-Dollar Question? Honestly, I don’t know. I personally don’t have the money to get it finished. I barely have a pot to …. Well, you get the hint! Maybe, just maybe, a group of concerned citizens (possibly preaching to the choir here) could come together and suggest a way to raise funds for the steadfast completion of the Interurban 305. One of the items mentioned on the VIP checklist was to increase the community’s involvement downtown through the use of events, festivals and other attractions. One possibility might be to host a concert of some magnitude where admission is charged, and the proceeds go towards the restoration project. How about a food festival downtown where tickets are purchased and proceeds are divided among the vendors and the restoration project? The possibilities are endless, but volunteers may not be, and that could eventually wind up being the set back. I hope and pray that will not be the case. Let’s face it folks, we are in a crunch right now … a major crunch, and it’s (no pun intended) crunch time. New ideas are needed. New volunteers are needed. It’s time to come together and make things happen. Now, is the time … now! The wheels may be a little, no, a lot rusted, but a little oil here and there will make it turn full circle again. Don’t let a wonderful piece of Corsicana history, and Texas history end up collecting cobwebs and rust. Navarro County is filled with such a rich history in cotton, oil and rail industries, and so many great and well-known individuals have lived and died here that it would be a travesty to see all of this in it’s glory be forgotten. Let’s make the Interurban 305 railcar a great addition to that history. Let’s finish the job, and then sit back and listen to everyone that has a chance to look at it marvel in its beauty. Let’s do this for the beautification and betterment of the community. Let’s bring the tourists to our humble abode to be amazed at what we have to offer! Amen. |
