CALLICOON — Back in January, the Callicoon Depot Inc. (CDI) elected a new board.

“The response was incredible,” Laurie Ramie, a Callicoon resident who serves as the board’s secretary, said. “Not only do we have impressive professionals but they are very motivated.”

The new board consists of 15 members in addition to a growing advisory board.

Since February the board has been meeting twice each month but will transition to monthly meetings inside the Depot starting in April.

“Between meetings we will get our tasks done separately,” Ramie said. 

Currently the CDI has $445,000 in grants and donations which will be used for various tasks, including a visitors center, equipment, pre-development planning and improving the grounds.

“The Callicoon Business Assn. holds the lease,” Ramie said, “which provides for site control of the project.”

The project is designed to turn the 127-year-old Callicoon Depot – one of the last passengers stations left on the 76-mile run from Port Jervis to Hancock – into an Upper Delaware River visitors center (one third of the building) and community resource (two thirds of the building).

President’s update

Wendee Greene was elected president of the CDI and said the board has been focused on getting several programs started as soon as this summer.

“We’ve been studying what’s offered up and down the river valley because we don’t want to duplicate anyone’s efforts,” she said. “It still leaves a lot of possibilities.”

To activate the space, Greene said the group is planning on hosting summer programming that highlights both the interior and exterior of the project.

The project even has its own historian, Randy Bushart, who is working with folks to secure artifacts, be they on loan or donated to the CDI.

“Thanks to a very generous donation by Michael Levine of Callicoon Center we were able to secure some great artifacts, including two historic benches and two baggage carts,” she said. “They will all be housed on site and add historical perspective to the project.”

And while the board and advisory board work on the next phases of the project, Greene said the board is non-traditional in many ways.
“We aren’t about committee chairs – it’s a collaborative effort that fosters a free flow of ideas.

“We are always open to new and interesting ideas and help is always welcome,” she said.

“We are now reaching the tangible [part of the project],” she said. “It’s so gratifying to work on this project – it’s everything a community organization should be.

“We want this project to be an asset to the whole community,” she said. “From the old guard to the transplants.

“We hope everybody will appreciate the project no matter how long you lived in the community.”

email: allaboard@callicoondepot.org

Phone 845-428-9212