Como Depot's New Owners, Stabilization Event
Located in the town of Como, Park County, are the remnants of a large railroad complex that was owned and operated by the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Railroad. The DSPP Railroad operated from 1879 to 1938. Extant structures include a stone roundhouse, a brick hotel, and a wood-framed freight depot. The depot, now called the Como Depot (added to the Endangered Places List in 2006), and hotel were recently purchased by preservation-friendly owners who are in the process of upgrading the hotel for continued use as a restaurant and place of lodging. When listed, the threats to the depot were deterioration and unsympathetic owners. Now the only threat is deterioration. The Depot continues to be damaged by the high winds and heavy snow loads of South Park.
But things are about to change! Colorado Preservation, Inc. and the Historic Preservation Program at Colorado Mountain College are hosting two weekend workshops on emergency stabilization. The dates are June 7-8 and June 14-15 and the cost is twenty dollars per person per work day. The fee includes lunch, professional instruction, and basic liability protection. Additionally, the owners are offering rooms in the historic hotel at half off regular rates but only for workshop participants. Previous preservation experience is not necessary. If interested, please contact CPI at (303) 893-4260 and ask for Jonas Landes. If interested in staying at the hotel please contact David Tomkins or Moya Cleaver at (719) 836-2594.
The Denver, South Park & Pacific Historical Society, as a registered non-profit organization, is hosting the fund raising drive to save the depot. In the near term, these funds will be used for stabilization materials, which we hope will be minimal as we are soliciting materials and donations from various sources. In the long term these monies will be applied toward meeting the required matching funds for State Historical Fund grants. Every little bit will help. If you would like to help, send your donation, made out to the society, to:
Denver, South Park & Pacific Historical Society c/o Tim Dannels, Treasurer
P. O. Box 26
Buena Vista, CO 81211-0026
All donors will receive an acknowledgement/receipt, and if for any reason the monies are not used for the above stated intentions they will be returned.
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