One of Aberdeen’s most historic buildings, the Aberdeen B&O Train Station, has seen progress in its restoration, but its future use remains uncertain as officials and community members search for funding and tenants.
The station has been empty since the late 1950s, when the Royal Blue passenger line was suspended. In 2003, the station was condemned, but it was saved from demolition after local historical groups rallied for its preservation.
After being lifted and moved 50 feet from its original position, the building’s exterior was restored to its original form last year. Now the nonprofit Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station Inc. is working to begin restoring the interior, though it is not yet clear what the building will become.
Peter Dacey, president of the nonprofit, said the building could be outfitted for more than one tenant, which he said could range from office space to a food hall. He said the group has raised about $8,000 in donations and committed $20,000 for interior restoration. But the group is a long way from its funding goal.
The interior revitalization is slated to cost $300,000 to $400,000, Dacey said. The nonprofit is working with city, state and county partners to secure grant funding for the remaining costs.
“The building is now protected for years to come, but the interior is still pretty rough so, we are trying to raise fund through grant, private donations, to restore it,” said Jean Miller, secretary of the Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station.
Before the revitalization of the building’s exterior, Miller said, the Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station had a hard time attracting interest from potential tenants. She said that after the exterior was complete, the building gained more attention, which she said she thinks will happen again after the interior is finished.
Miller noted that the walls, old piping, and other aspects of the building interior are outdated. They will need to be removed before any of the remodeling occurs. In January, Dacey said, that work will begin.
“The approach that we are taking is that we are going to do it in phases and so we have proposed phase one as the interior demolition of the walls, piping and other things that are not functioning,” Dacey said. “Then we will do concrete and a subfloor, and then insulation, which is projected to cost about $42,000.”
The Aberdeen B&O Train Station was built in 1885 as a stop on the B&O’s Royal Blue passenger line between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The 2,465-square-foot station was central to Aberdeen’s economy for decades as it played a key role in the city’s canning industry and Aberdeen Proving Ground’s transportation of troops and supplies.
Regardless of the building’s future use, Dacey said, the history of the station will be on display throughout the building.
Aberdeen Mayor Patrick McGrady said the city could consider taking ownership of the station after renovations are complete to help cover steep maintenance costs.
“You cannot change anything from the original configuration, so it is going to have to be used in such a way that the exterior facade is maintained, which is expensive because of things like the building’s slate roof,” McGrady said. “The question is, how do we maximize the value to the state, county and Aberdeen so that it becomes a useful thing to the community rather than a money pit.”
McGrady noted that the building’s future use will take a “strong vision from the county, state and city” to make the station feasible as it is a “heavy lift financially.” The mayor said he pitched the idea of the space being a history-based food hall that has a caboose outside the station that operates like a food truck.
He also said the idea of a performing arts space has been floated, and he is interested in looking into how a 4-acre lot next to the station could be used to support the site.
“As things continue to progress and we near completion, we will get a better idea of who the tenants might be,” Miller said. “One thing that is in our favor is that we are in a historical building, which is not a common space.”
The timeline for the completion of the interior of the building is unknown.
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