Depot is done

DUNKIRK — The depot is ready.

Now it needs a tenant.

Dunkirk Industrial Development Corporation held an open house Wednesday night to unveil the renovated former Pennsylvania Railroad depot building.

About 50 visitors made their way to the facility located along Lincoln Avenue about a block west of Main Street (Ind. 167) and adjacent to Webster-Depot Park to check out renovations that have been in the works for years.

Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins spoke a bit about the various renovations, noting new heating, air conditioning and water lines.

He said the project is “98% done,” with only finishing touches like hardware, locks and possibly lighting fixtures remaining.

“It sat empty for so many years,” said Robbins later as local musicians George Lopez and Arnold Clevenger performed. “And you’ve got an organization like DIDC, that’s what we’re supposed to do.

“We decided we were going to take all the land that DIDC owns and take it in a different direction, start fixing things up.”

The building has been in and out of DIDC’s hands over the last few decades, with the organization most recently acquiring it again in 2005. (It had previously been home to home decor shop The Nest Egg, but had most been untouched since its days as a passenger terminal.) Three years later, the city was awarded a $351,931 Indiana Department of Transportation grant to pay for the first phase of renovations, which included a new slate roof, windows, doors and exterior brick.

The most recent renovations to the interior began in 2019 thanks to a grant from the Dr. Donald Johnson Fund through The Dunkirk Foundation and economic development funds from Bluff Point Wind Energy Center. DIDC picked up the rest of the tab for the $70,000 project.

“Dr. Johnson would appreciate this because this is exactly what Dr. Johnson would want … his money to go toward,” said Jesse Bivens, president of The Dunkirk Foundation, after Robbins presented a plaque thanking the foundation for its support.

In addition to the new HVAC system and water lines, funding went to fix the damaged flooring and to created two public restrooms and make them handicapped accessible.

The building, which features ceilings at 17 feet, 10 inches, also got cosmetic updates such as new paint and lighting.

The original oak woodwork has been maintained, as has the wooden door in the baggage room and the ticket window, which on Wednesday was used to give out free popcorn and beverages to visitors.

The depot began operation in 1967 and was key to the city’s growth to becoming the Glass Capital of Indiana.

“This renovation of this building is an important part of preserving the rail history for downtown Dunkirk,” said Travis Richards, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation and DIDC secretary. “But we’re not just thinking about the past here, we’re looking forward to the future.”

The future of the building, DIDC and city leaders hope, is to once again become a hub of activity for Dunkirk.

Robbins said anyone who is interested in renting the space for a business would be considered, but he hopes it can be something that is a gathering place and draws visitors from outside of the community.

“A specialty business, something that’s going to draw people to the City of Dunkirk,” he said, encouraging anyone interested to contact the mayor’s office. “That’s our wish for it.”