Blue Springs Historical Society
The Blue Springs Historical Society is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization formed in 1976. The Society is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and fostering appreciation of the history of Blue Springs, Missouri.
All Save Our Depot Backers!
The resolution 10-2012 authorizing the Blue Springs Historical Society, Inc to relocate the Chicago & Alton depot in the City's Central Park was passed unanimously at this week's City Council Meeting!
Now we must move forward to raise the additional
$16,000 needed by spring to move the depot.
Donations can be sent to:
Blue Springs Historical Society - SOD
PO Box 762
Blue Springs, MO 64013
Press Release
Historical Society Facebook
A Blue Springs couple signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a money match of $25,000.00 to save the Blue Springs 1926 Chicago & Alton Depot. A check will be given to the Blue Springs Historical Society, Inc. ~ Depot as soon as the $25,000.00 donation match is raised. As president of the Blue Springs Historical Society, Mary Potter said, “I couldn’t believe all of the zeros after the $25.” Since early August, volunteers and supporters have raised over $5,000.00 through donations, two silent auctions and one fundraiser. Potter added, “I had no idea there were other individuals who felt as strongly as I do about saving this important piece of our Blue Springs history”. The Depot represents why Blue Springs moved from the valley of Woods Chapel to the top of the hill when the Chicago & Alton Railroad laid the tracks and built a depot in 1879. Mary met with the couple in mid-November to sign the document accepting the couples’ generous donation to the Depot. Greg Grounds, former Blue Springs Mayor and Jackson County Legislator, is donating his time and professional expertise as an attorney to the organizations.
The couple, with an enthusiasm for trains and depots, wishes to remain anonymous. When the Blue Springs couple saw the dedication of individuals to save the depot, they decided a money match would encourage the community’s individuals, businesses and civic organizations to donate larger sums of money to save the Depot.
The Blue Springs Historical Society ~ Depot has agreed upon an amount with Patton, Inc. to move the Depot from its current location on downtown Main Street to a nearby downtown park. The payment to the mover, Doyle Patton, is $16,000.00. To replace the concrete slab foundation will cost approximately $4,000.00. This projected cost includes the foundation forms, rebar, concrete, gravel and grading. Contractor Steve Greer has volunteered to oversee this part of the project. He is donating his talent and time. The Blue Springs Historical Society ~ Depot is asking for construction companies to donate materials or to donate the materials at a discounted cost. Since the Historical Society is a 501c3 non-profit, donations are tax deductible.
The Save Our Depot group has spoken with the Blue Springs School District about construction students helping with the concrete slab. This would be overseen by professional concrete layers.
After the Depot is moved to its new site, Kansas City Southern Railway will donate $5,000.00 toward the restoration. Their generous donation along with donors to meet the moving cost of $20,000.00 will meet the anonymous donors $25,000.00. Then the restoration on the outside of the Depot begins with $30,000.00. The Blue Springs Historical Society ~ Save Our Depot has had Keith Albarelli, a master electrician, volunteer to do the all electric wiring and Zucca Roofers was volunteered to replace the composition roof. The group needs a skilled plumber, an insulation company, and outside painting company to volunteer their skills and materials at a reduced cost to finish the outside of the Depot. After these are finished, the stucco will complete the outside. Potter said, the Save Our Depot will begin the inside restoration. She said the inside of the Depot is described as being in above average condition.
Matching Donation should be mailed to Blue Springs Historical Society ~ Depot, P.O. Box 762, Blue Springs, MO 64013.