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Callicoon Station's future discussed

Fred Stabbert III - Publisher
Posted 10/17/17

CALLICOON - One of the most iconic buildings in Callicoon sits idle, waiting for its next great adventure.

Once a passenger and way freight station on the Erie Line, the station was a bustling …

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Callicoon Station's future discussed

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CALLICOON - One of the most iconic buildings in Callicoon sits idle, waiting for its next great adventure.

Once a passenger and way freight station on the Erie Line, the station was a bustling epicenter of the community. Travelers boarded and disembarked on a daily basis and freight was loaded and unloaded.

Times changed and the passenger trains stopped running nearly 50 years ago. Freight trains no longer load and unload on the station's docks, although freight trains still use the line.

The Callicoon Business Assn. (CBA) has been working on a plan to put life back into the grand structure.

Using a grant from Sullivan Renaissance, the Callicoon Business Assn. began a Visioning Callicoon series nearly a year ago.

Several uses for the station were identified, namely

• Community Commons;

• Callicoon Visitors Center and Town Square;

• Local Good and Provisions Counter; or

• Library uses, including book cart, to name a few.

Irene Nickolai, a member of the Callicoon Community Development Committee - an offshoot of the CBA - went to the Delaware Town Board last week seeking support of the project in the form of a letter.

“We want to fix it up,” Nickolai said. “But we can't fundraise until we get into a lease with them [the owners of the station].”

The CBA is approaching The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway Corp. (NYSWRC) of Cooperstown, owners of the station, to try and lease the unused building.

NYSWRC spokesperson Melanie Boyer said yesterday, “We haven't seen the plans yet, but yes, we definitely would be interested in leasing it.

“Of course, the group would be responsible for insurance, heating, electric, just like any lease,” Boyer said. “It needs some work inside, too.”

Supervisor Ed Sykes and the town board endorsed the project and drafted a letter of support to be sent along with the proposal.

Sykes cautioned, “I worry about sustainability. But I certainly don't want to see it abandoned.”

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