ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605300020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Not only has the town of Pulaski managed to restore its historic train station building, it now has its gatehouse back.
The little red gatehouse building now sits just outside the train station, next to a red caboose donated to the town along with the station building by Norfolk Southern Corp.
The gatehouse was given to the town by Billie Ann Dalton, in memory of her husband, Robert Dalton, and Harry Midkiff, a yardman for the Norfolk and Western Railway which became NS. Mayor Andy Graham announced the gift at Pulaski Town Council's last meeting.
The building, used to raise and lower access gates on railway crossings in town, originally stood on Washington Avenue atop a support structure. Those who manned it had to climb a ladder and then climb through a small hole in the building to get inside.
A chair, stove, control panel and toilet were the only items inside for the occupant during his eight-hour shift. Others who worked in the gatehouse were Emmett Hill, Thomas Newsome and Kelce Manuel who had lost one of his legs but still made the climb up the ladder.
Later, steps were built up the side. In the 1930s or 1940s, there was a crossing house at Jefferson Avenue as well but, after that, all three town crossings were controlled from the Washington Avenue building.
The building finally was removed in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
The train station was restored several years ago and now houses the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and the Raymond Ratcliffe Memorial Museum, which includes an extensive train exhibit. Plans are to use the gatehouse to extend those exhibits.
The reopening of the restored station building, after years of volunteer labor and funding efforts, prompted an annual Depot Day observance three years ago. This year's expanded Depot Days Festival will run June 20-23, and feature the Artrain with national and local exhibits which will be pulled to Pulaski by NS.
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: PAUL DELLINGER/Staff. This gatehouse building is latestby CNBaddition to Pulaski's depot area. color.