NEWFANE — The Historical Society of Windham County recently received a $1,000 grant from the Crosby-Gannett Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation.
The grant will help further the Historical Society's mission of preserving Windham County's heritage by restoring a county historic landmark, the Newfane Railroad Depot.
“We are truly grateful for the support of the Crosby-Gannett Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation and their appreciation for the significance of this project,” said Laura Wallingford-Bacon, President of the Historical Society of Windham County, in a news release. “The enthusiasm and outpouring of support and contributions from the community will allow us to begin the restoration process on the station this summer as we had hoped.”
The Historical Society plans to restore the recently acquired Newfane Railroad Station and open it as a museum of the West River Railroad, and an annex of the current Windham County Museum. The Newfane Railroad Station property includes the old depot building and a water tank building, both of which were built in 1880 under the auspices of the Brattleboro-Whitehall Railroad (later called the West River Railroad).
The Crosby-Gannett Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation supports endeavors that contribute to the betterment and vitality of the Brattleboro area. Visit www.vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information.
The Historical Society of Windham County was formed in 1927, and incorporated in 1933. The current museum building in Newfane was constructed in 1936. The museum houses a valuable collection of Windham County artifacts and manuscripts that document the story of Vermont's heritage. The Newfane Railroad Station is a short walk from the museum in the Newfane Village Historic District.
For more information on the Historical Society of Windham County and West River Railroad Museum, visit www.historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.