Renovation of railroad museum in Poplar Bluff nearly complete

Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Weather permitting, work is expected to be completed this month on the $56,000 renovation project for the depot building that houses the Poplar Bluff Railroad Museum.

It was built in 1928 to replace the one blown away by a tornado, said Joe Falvey, museum custodian. It's the only Spanish-style historical depot in the state, he said.

Falvey said the project involved tuck-pointing, replacing four big beams in the attic that hold the roof up, woodwork, repairing doors and windows.

"We're probably 90 percent done," said Ed Norton, engineer with C.E. Norton Construction, the general contractor for the project.

Norton said they looked all over the country by e-mail for brick to match the structure.

"We spent two and a half months trying to find a match. We e-mailed pictures out everywhere and put in a lot of effort to make sure it was what the architect wanted," he said. "They would send us samples and we would take them down and see if they matched."

Norton said they finally went with a brick from a local company.

The museum is open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission charge.