Despite sweltering heat, large crowd attends Depot Museum brick dedication

Clint Conway speaks at the brick dedication.

AMBOY - Over 100 people braved the sweltering heat to attend the brick dedication on Sunday, July 1, 2012, at the Amboy Depot Museum.

Jack Dempsey, Depot Commission Chairman served as Master of Ceremonies. Commission members Helen Glessner, Carolyn Leake, Carol Biester, Ed Clayton, and Leroy Dukes were also present. Host Nanette Safranski greeted visitors in the museum. Ron Biester and Dave Shaw served as hosts in Palmer School and the freight house.

City officials in attendance were Mayor Frank Mekeel, Aldermen Dave Shaw and Tom Nauman, and Treasurer Darlene Hinkle.

Mayor Mekeel discussed the development of the museum that is funded by donations from individuals, Depot Days, and the Car Show Committee. He also spoke about his connection to the depot through his grandfather, Frank Merlo, who came from Italy and went to work for the Illinois Central Rail Road in Amboy. Amanda Walter, who brought the idea of the brick project to the depot commission, gave a presentation on her involvement with the project and the historical significance of the bricks to the City of Amboy.

Chairman Dempsey presented plaques to Dennis Donna and Greg Noble for their contribution of time and labor to the project. He also expressed gratitude to the City of Amboy for their help.

Dempsey introduced Clint Conway as the first Depot Commission Chairman and mentioned also that the museum park is named the Clinton Conway Historical Park.

Clint donned his conductor’s hat to speak to the crowd. He wore that hat on many occasions, years ago, to promote the depot.

Mr. Conway spoke of his initial involvement, when he and Ira Hageman negotiated a rental agreement with the Illinois Central in order to save the depot from destruction. Clint went on to describe the state of the building when they began their project. All the windows were broken; the staircase spindles had been broken or removed and the place needed to be cleaned and painted. He recalled Mayor McCracken working upstairs with his sawhorses, cutting glass and replacing all the windows. He said it worried him when he saw Florence Rasmussen painting up on a tall ladder. Cecil Harrison and he painted the trim inside just hours before the initial opening of the museum. His memories from 1973 and on brought an appreciation of the dedication of the original saviors of the museum. They worked hard to raise money, applied for grants, and spent countless hours repairing and cleaning up the building.

He introduced Cecil Harrison, who was in attendance, as one of the original members of the Depot Commission. Norma Shapiro, George Mason, Ira Hageman, Florence Rasmussen, Deane Emery, Charles Dekker, Mayor Kenneth McCracken, and Mr. Conway were also among the first members. Peggy Shapiro Horstman was in attendance as well as several members of the McCracken family.

Kathy Mekeel and Jennifer Seeley played a beautiful musical presentation, “On Eagles Wings,” for the gathering. Miss Amboy 2011, Carly Barlow, presented a framed 1913 picture of the Amboy depot to the winner of the drawing, Miss Eriannah Wade.

After the ceremony, many spent time viewing the bricks, visiting with friends, and touring the museum buildings.