In 2016 the Colrain Historical Society celebrates the
120th anniversary of the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway
with a season-long focus on transportation in Colrain’s history. But our first
program on Thursday, April 14 is a tip of the (conductor’s) hat to another
anniversary – 50 years of the National Historic Preservation Act.
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| Penn Station in 1911. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons. |
For Thursday’s program we’ll show
the PBS documentary film “The Rise and Fall of Penn Station,” which tells the
story of building the magnificent terminal of the Pennsylvania Railroad in New
York City in 1910. But just 53 years after the station’s opening, the building
was demolished. The heartbreaking loss inspired the city to establish the
Landmarks Preservation Commission, sparing Grand Central Terminal a similar
fate. Larger than that, it sparked the modern preservationist movement,
culminating with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in
1966.
For any town grappling with the fate
of its remaining historic structures and character, this film serves as a great
conversation-starter. It will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in the Stacy Barn behind the
Pitt House at 8 Main Road in Colrain. The program, which follows a business
meeting at 7:00, is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
For more information call Belden at
624-3453.