East Stroudsburg, PA – The Eastburg Community Alliance (ECA) is pleased to announce receipt of a $100,000.000 grant award from the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation in support of its Dansbury Depot Preservation Project. Given the history of Hughes Printing and the legacy of the Hughes family in this community the ECA is honored to have the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation’s support and partnership in this meaningful historic preservation and economic generating rehabilitation and adaptive re-use project. This grant award will support interior rehabilitation work on the 1864 East Stroudsburg Railroad Station (popularly known as the Dansbury Depot) according to strict historic preservation guidelines. The interior rehabilitation work that the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation grant supports will prepare the historic Dansbury Depot Station for design and development which will allow for its adaptive reuse in the community as an active and evolving local and railroad history museum and gallery space, supportive railroad-themed coffee shop/cafe, community event and meeting space and administrative office. The adaptive and engaging reuses of this unique historic space, accompanied by ECA-sponsored cultural events and educational programming, will ensure constant motion and activity and provide invaluable resources to present and future residents and visitors. The preservation of the Dansbury Depot will additionally pay homage to the vital role that the railroad has played in shaping the social and economic landscape of East Stroudsburg and the surrounding greater Pocono region. The ECA will open the Dansbury Depot Station to the public for a sneak peak of our progress at our Re-Dedication ceremony on October 15th, 2011.
The ECA appreciates all who have ‘come on board’ so far to help save and preserve our community’s invaluable history, including (but not limited to): the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation, ESSA Bank and Trust Foundation, the Monroe County Commissioners, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, PA Historic and Museum Commission, Preservation PA, PA Downtown Center, Senator Lisa Boscola, State Representative Mario Scavello, the Borough of East Stroudsburg, Troy Nauman, for his donation of the Station to the ECA, the donation of pro bono professional services by: R.K.R. Hess, Engineers, Schoonover and Vanderhoofs, Architects and Dr. Cheryl Lyn Hayne, Project Manager, as well as the positive support of thousands of residents, both past and present.
For additional information, please visit http://www.eastburgalliance.com/EastStroudsburgStation.htm or call Cheryl Hayne, ECA Executive Director and Downtown Manager, Dansbury Depot Preservation Project Manager with questions at 570-424-7540 or eastburginfo@gmail.com.
