RIVERS
BANNER August 26, 2016
ersary v i n Celebrating our 108th An
Gazette-Reporter Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 107 years
Volume 109, Issue 9
89¢ + tax
Photo by Sheila Runions
The large overhanging eave on Rivers train station was rotten and has been completely removed; restoration work of new trusses for the new overhang should be done by September. Steve van der Wal (R) and worker Denis Rondeau are seen walking out the baggage claim door to their work area on the west side of the station.
A decade of work for a new roof By Donna Morken Chairperson Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee has been working since 2006. Some of its members have been working on this for many years before that to restore, renovate and rejuvenate the station; they have also been compiling heritage information along the way. Rivers’ station is a federally-designated heritage station, receiving that designation in 1992. The first station was destroyed by fire and the current station was completed in 1917, making it 100 years old next year when Canada has its 150th birthday. Rivers & Area Community Foundation (RACF) was started because of a bequest from Bernard Goekoop. Bernard and his
wife Iola used to sit for hours watching the trains go by, so to honour his memory, RACF wishes to have a home in the station. To that end, the train station committee and RACF are working together to accomplish this. RACF received a $50,000 grant from Burns Foundation to begin repairing the roof of the station. (Through this partnership, persons wishing to make donations to the station can do so through RACF for a charitable receipt.) Repair work started on July 19 by Steve van der Wal Construction of Rapid City. He hopes to have the station looking like it did by the end of September. Members of the station committee and local volunteers held
a painting bee for facia and soffit boards that will be used in the roof repairs. Volunteers were Eleanor and Lynn Madden, as well as committee members Beth Schaffer, Betty MacDonald, Bob Wedderburn, Al and Donna Morken. Committee members Marlene Hayhurst and Carol Hassard kept the group refreshed with muffins, cookies and cold drinks. North American Lumber manager Ken Tait allowed the painting bee to take place in the alley way of the business’ storage shed, to provide relief from the hot sun. Rivers is the very first North American Lumber yard, built in 1906 when the railway was pushing its way west; it seems
fitting that the lumber yard was involved. The “Rivers” station signs that were on the building have been taken down and are being refurbished by committee members. They, along with the puzzle pieces (which will be constructed into a a mural later next year), will be put up again once roof repairs are complete. The flowers you see at the stationette are provided and cared for by the train station committee members. Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee has a long-term lease with Via Rail for the historic building, with plans for a tourist information booth, museum, RACF boardroom,
Via passenger area and a space dedicated to local community arts and culture. The train committee is working on some very exciting sustainability projects; more information will become available as we move the projects along. Anyone wishing more information as to the train stations projects can contact any committee member or call 204328-7841.