Meadville Depot - FCVRRHS.org French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society, Meadville, PA 16335

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Meadville Depot

Museum

The Steering Committtee met Friday, February 8, 2019 at 789 Bessemer St., Meadville. The committtee released the news article n the Meadville Depot that appeared in the Meadville Tribune recently. The committee will decide on a date for the Launch Event at an upcoming meeting. The presentation of the Launch Event will include guest speakers, a Power Point ® presentation, floor plans and conceptual drawings and refreshments. The next Steering Committtee meeting is Friday, February 15, 2019. Jack Sheets has received two quotes to survey the Depot property. He is expecting three more. Work sessions are being scheduled to clean up the Depot. Two will likely be completed before members read this edition. Those that volunteer at scheduled work sessions must not be on the premises alone. Another member is required in case an emergency occurs. Members should not be on the property without prior authorization. All those wanting to volunteer will need to check their email for notices.
Grand Opening of the Meadville PA Depot.

The French Creek Valley Railroad Historical Society finally has a home!  The organization has purchased the former Meadville Farm & Garden Supply located at 136 Mead Avenue in Meadville, PA.  The building was built by the Meadville Railway in 1881, which was reorganized as the Meadville & Linesville in 1884.  The M&L later became the Meadville Conneaut Lake & Linesville Railway.  The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad's predecessor Pittsburgh Bessemer & Lake Erie gained control of the line before 1900.  The MCL&L was officially merged into the B&LE in 1947.  The line was then abandoned in the late 1970s.
 The building had been sold to O.S. Brock at a date not yet confirmed.  Mr. Brock founded the Meadville Farm & Garden and incorporated the business on December 20, 1965.  Ownership and leasing transitions is still being researched.  The Mattocks family purchased the business in 1969.  The business was under the Mattocks Five umbrella (5M) that included feed mills in Albion, Titusville, and Waterford, PA.  
 Work has begun to clean the interior after which repairs will begin.  A new roof is needed along with new windows, wiring, plumbing, and other items that will be needed to open the building as a museum and headquarters.  Watch this website, our other website for the depot and Facebook page for details on the upcoming Launch Event Donations are gladly accepted and are tax deductible, as we are compliant with Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code.
 We also will continue to complete restoration of the B&LE boxcar and the Conrail/DL&W Russell snowplow.  Donations to these projects are also accepted with gratitude.

 The photo of the FCVRRHS board is courtesy of the Meadville Tribune, the photographer is Terry Martin (not a Tribune employee).
The other photo is an earlier photo, probably early 1970s and is from the former Meadville Farm & Garden's Facebook site.
Shown: Carl Timko, Dennis Mead (far left), Stan Niwa, John Snyder, Jack Sheets, Bill McComas, Bernie Hanmore, Ed Cronin, John Nagurney, Nick Ozorak and Maryann Martin (who is not on the board).  Missing was Ron Stafford.

136 Mead Avenue, Meadville, VA
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