Tehachapi News

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The theme “Tehachapi Depot Back on Track” has been chosen and will be featured in all fundraising activities. A major concert is being planned by Debby Hand and Larry Barrett, Main Street is planning an evening dance for Mountain Festival weekend, the Arts Coalition of Tehachapi will donate a portion of proceeds from the Sunday Concert in the Park series and other groups will be doing fundraisers.
Several large contributions have already been received from individuals and businesses and will be announced soon. Donations are being held by the Friends of the Depot (FOTD), a nonprofit group that has been active for several years in the renovation of the now destroyed 1904 depot and who will have a major hand in helping with the rebuilding project and railroad museum, which will be housed in the rebuilt depot.
Once collected, donated funds will be transferred to the city, which is the lead agency in the project. Other donations have already been made and are currently held by the city until needed in the coming year.
A website is being produced as a donation by Richard Sparks of Sparks Arts that will give news of the depot project and to give information to those wishing to make monetary donations, as well as items for the railroad museum.
Options will be put into place for everyone who wishes to donate through other fundraisers such as collections cans in local stores. In addition, sponsorships will be set up for certain items, such as museum galleries, showcases, landscaping and other items needed to complete the project.
A large sign will be produced to be placed in front of the depot site to show the progress made towards reaching the goal of 100% completion. The city plans to have the building complete by sometime next year, in time to be a part of the Tehachapi Centennial Celebration.
The city is producing a comprehensive plan for construction as quickly a possible. The original floor plan from the 1904 building is available, and City Engineer Jay Schlosser of Boyle Engineering is coordinating architectural plans. The firm will be donating their portion of the project to the rebuilding effort.
Once completed, cost estimates will be available and the city can complete negotiations with the insurance company to determine what portion of the replacement value of the building will be covered. Once all details have been agreed upon, a timeline for building will be announced and the depot rebuilding will begin.
The cleanup phase from the fire will start in several weeks, and once the go ahead is given, FOTD members will start sifting the ashes for any hinges, cabinet pulls or other items that can be retrieved. In the meantime, the museum design team is continuing their work so that the Stokoe collection, display cases, signage and other portions of the museum will be ready to install when the depot is completed.
The website will be up and accessible in the near future and will be found at www.thetehachapidepot.org Until further notice, all questions can be directed to Charles White at 972.0958.