Loon Cove Station

[Slickcraft]

The old Loon Cove Station (albeit modified over the years) still exists in the woods off Rt 11 in Alton. See:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=6122

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=4669

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...php?photo=4674

The Alton Downtown Revitalization Committee is currently working with the building owner and DOT (it is on DOT land) to have the building moved to the B&M Railroad Park in Alton. The park is located behind the Town Hall, left of the Police station on the old railroad bed. The park currently includes an old freight building and a caboose surrounded by many recent landscaping improvements. The committee members are really excited about the prospect of saving and restoring the building.

[mcdude]

[mcdude]

From the Baysider

A new addition for the railroad park?

Downtown Revitalization Committee (DRC) Chairwoman Judy Frye approached the board, along with resident Marty Cornelissen,
to request their support for the idea of accepting the former Loon
Cove station building as a donation from the state, and moving it from its current location on Route 11 to the B&M Railroad Park behind Town Hall.
Cornelissen explained that the state had claimed the land on which the station house originally sat by eminent domain in 1968, just prior to the reconfiguration of Route 11, and planned to tear it down unless a party such as the DRC could take it off their hands. “It needs work, but it’s all
there,” he said, adding that the Loon Cove building is the last of its kind available in the area. “You’ve got our support to go ahead,” Sherwood said after gathering a consensus from the board. A public hearing on the acceptance of the building has been scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.

For more on the Railroad Park and the Alton Village Station CLICK HERE

[mcdude]

More PROGRESS!

Selectmen accept donation of historic railroad station

BY BRENDAN BERUBE

Staff Writer

ALTON

— A new addition will soon be joining the B&M Railroad Park behind Town Hall, thanks to an unexpected donation from a local resident. The board of selectmen voted Monday night to accept the donation of the historic Loon Cove station (originally part of the Lakeshore Railroad) on behalf of Alton’s Downtown Revitalization Committee (DRC). “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to have a really important part of Alton’s history,”
DRC Chairwoman Judy Frye said, adding that her committee found the project “exciting and challenging.” Although the building was offered to the DRC by its present owner at no cost, she explained, there are “many
steps along the way” to its becoming a part of the railroad park, including the tricky process of moving it from its current location on the other side of Alton Bay. Historical Society member Marty Cornelissen,who is assisting
the DRC with the project, explained that the hardest aspect of the move will be maneuvering the building underneath cable and telephone lines.
While the top five feet of the building will be removed, reducing its height to 16 feet, six inches and making it easier to clear overhead lines, he
said, a section of cable located in front of Alton Home and Lumber could present a problem. “It’s going to be an interesting move,” he added. Although the DRC has secured the funds needed to hire a contractor to lift the building onto a trailer (which will be donated by resident Scott
Williams), Frye said, they would welcome additional private contributions toward the restoration process, which will include the demolition of some additions in order to bring the station back to its original condition. “I think it’s a wonderful project,” Historical Society President Nancy Thomas
commented. “It’s something that I’m looking forward to seeing down at the park.” Selectman Steve McMahon commended the DRC for their work on the railroad park,which he said has come a long way from where it was
two years ago, and has provided a “nice, added attraction” to the town.

[Spit'n Image Farm]

Just an update on the Loon Cove station, plus a couple of pictures I took just before snow flew to show what it looks like now. There is a picture posted on this forum as to what it looked like before we started. The station is ready to be lifted to remove the foundation and lower it onto the trailer we are going to use to move the station. We have contracted with Prescott & Sons to lift and then lower the building. They gave us a superb price and Thank them tremendously. We are now in the process of getting approvals from DOT, Metro Cast, Phone and NH Electric Co Op, who we need to coordinate the move. So far, so good. We are tentatively looking at the first week in May to make the first attempt to move the station. Watch the newspapers and I'll try to post the exact date on this forum. Marty C

[mcdude]

From the Baysider 4/9/09

Loon Cove Station to be Moved on Sunday April 26

Loon Cove move set for April 26

Bailey informed the board during his bi-weekly report that the historic Loon Cove railroad station was slated to be moved from its present location
on Route 11 to the B&M Railroad Park at 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 26.
Due to the amount of work involved in disconnecting utility lines and ensuring minimal traffic along the route, he said, the move, which should take roughly two hours, will entail closing a portion of Route 11 and redirecting traffic. Bolster thanked Prescott Brothers of Barnstead for
giving the town’s Downtown Revitalization Committee a “really good deal” on some of the equipment necessary to complete the process.

sounds like a good photo op!

[Slickcraft]

Here is a photo taken April 1st of the station in a "ready to load" condition.
We will plan to be there on the 26th.

[Spit'n Image Farm]

In case of severe weather on Sunday 4/26, the move will be on Sunday May 3, same time. You will need to pick a spot to watch the move. The police and fire depts will be holding all vehicles from getting to close behind or in front to prevent any interference of utility crews. Both sides of the road will have no parking or stopping permitted along the whole route including the bay bridge. It's going to be a tight squeeze at the bridges, Busy Corner/Post Office and the intersection of 28a and Rte 11 at Parker Marine. The building will be taking up the whole road, both north and southbound. Traffic will be diverted except between Busy Corner/Post Office and Parker Marine where Route 11 will be closed down completely until we get past Parker Marine, possibly until we get to the Letter "S" road. Marty C

[Slickcraft]

The move went off without a hitch, other than needing to swap for a bigger tractor at the start.
Hard work and good planning pays off. Others will have more photos and more of the story; I am off to ride the Harley right now. Too bad Judy was sick and did not make it to see the move.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Glad to hear that things went well with the move. Even more glad that something this historic is preserved.

[Argie's Wife]

I had planned to go to the move yesterday but wasn't able to make it. Thanks for posting the pics - do you have any more? I'd love to see them!

Glad to hear all went well - the kiddos love the RR park and it will be neat to see what happens with this!

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

I had planned to go to the move yesterday but wasn't able to make it. Thanks for posting the pics - do you have any more? I'd love to see them!

OK here are two more, I'll leave a cd at town hall with pat.

[mcdude]

Thanks for posting those. Looks like quite a crowd showed up!

[Spit'n Image Farm]

The move of the Loon Cove station couldn't have been any better. Even the weather was great. I wish to thank all who helped make the move a great success. Special thanks need to go to Russell Bailey, the Town Administrator who coordinated all the utility co.'s and town agencies to make it a smooth and flawless move. Here are some of the pictures I took from when the station was leaving, up to the RR Park. Marty C

[Argie's Wife]

How awesome is that?! Love it! Looks like things went really well and it was all planned out - YEA!

Man, I love my town!



PS
Walked the dog tonight at the RR park - the little Loon Cove Station has so much promise. I'm excited to see what's next?!

PSS
The spring peepers will about make you go deaf there at night now! They were l-o-u-d!

[mcdude]

From the Laconia Citizen

New chapter for a RR depot of yesteryear Alton:


Monday, April 27, 2009

Before the sun even came up, people lined the streets of Alton waiting for a glimpse of the old train station as it made its trip through town.

"Hey it's not every day you see a train station drive through town," said one man to another as more and more people with cameras lined Route 11 and Route 28.

With State Police leading the way and Alton Police diverting traffic whenever necessary, the depot began its final trip at exactly 6 a.m.

Accompanied by workers from Union Telephone, MetroCast Cablevision, and New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, the station slowly made its way about two miles through the center of town.

As the depot, which reached about 16 feet into the air, came to a telephone, cable or power line, the appropriate company would lift the line to allow it to sneak under as the structure made its way to Railroad Park where it will become the centerpiece.

Built around 1890, Marty Cornelissen said the old half-yellow half-green wooden depot with the slate roof was one of the first train stations in Alton.

"The Lakeshore Line started running in 1890," said Cornelissen who waited behind Town Hall for the depot's arrival. "It was originally in the woods because that's where the tracks were."

According to Cornelissen, the road that serviced Alton and Alton Bay was actually Rand Road and the train tracks were along Route 11.

As passenger cars began to replace branch line passenger trains, the small depot stayed in the woods on what is now state land.

At some point, it came the property of Maggie Moore who converted it to a home and lived there until her death.

"I knew her," said neighbor Nancy Malone. "Her husband converted it into a little home, but she got old and had to live in a nursing home."

Cornelissen said Moore's son donated it to the town of Alton, with the stipulation it be removed from state land.

Cornelissen and his brother took off the topmost portion of the slate roof so it would clear the power lines during its trip through town. The town will rebuild the roof and restore the depot in its new home behind Town Hall.