NEWFANE — The Historical Society of Windham County will host a soup fest and extensive silent auction on Sunday, March 29, at the NewBrook Fire Station on Route 30.
Doors open at 4 p.m., and admission is $5. The event will help raise funds for the Windham County Historical Society's restoration of the 1880 Newfane railroad station as a museum of the West River Railroad and as an annex to the Windham County Museum in Newfane.
You won't have to ride the West River Railroad's “36 Miles of Trouble” to enjoy a variety of soups from Brattleboro to South Londonderry. Ten restaurants from the 10 towns along the old West River Railroad are bringing them to you: Whetstone Station (Brattleboro), Top of the Hill Grill (Dummerston), The Eatery (Williamsville), Rick's Tavern (Newfane), Harmonyville Store (Townshend), Dam Diner (West Townshend), Bitter Sweet Memories Cafe (Wardsboro), D & J Jamaica Grocery (Jamaica), Whiskey Dicks (Winhall), and The New American Grill (South Londonderry).
Soup, bread and fixings will be served at 5 p.m., followed by desserts. Silent auction bids and the 50/50 raffle will close at 6 p.m. An exhibit of the West River Railroad's “36 Miles of Trouble” will be on display, including the Newfane railroad station diorama built by model craftsman of international renown Bill Banta, and on loan from Doug Cox.
There will also be vintage photographs and other artifacts of the West River Railroad at the event.
The Historical Society of Windham County purchased the old Newfane railroad station in the historic district of Newfane last October. Restoration of the depot, built in 1880, will begin in the spring. For more information, see the Historical Society's website: www.historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.