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Klir offers open house at old train depot
By NANCY SPENCER
The Delphos Herald
nspencer@delphosherald.com
FORT JENNINGS — When Dr. Wesley Klir first saw the old Fort Jennings Train Depot in 2005, it was sad and tired looking in a yard in Cloverdale.
The depot was constructed around the turn of the 20th century by the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, later known as the Nickel Plate Railroad. Fort Jennings was once celebrated as a railroad hub on the Cloverleaf Line.
The railroad brought many interesting things to Fort Jennings. Many still remember when the circus came to town. It was the first time they had seen an elephant and some of the other exotic animals that came off a boxcar.
When the line was first laid from Delphos to Fort Jennings, the Saturday of the Canal Days celebration was held in Fort Jennings. Klir said it took 15 trips to move 2,000 to Fort Jennings.
The station served passengers and freight until it was abandoned and later moved in the late 1960s. It spent the next 40 years housing chickens, raccoons and mice. Then along came Dr. Klir and his father, Joe Klir.
“We are history people and we love trains, so it was natural we would want to save this depot, fix it up and share it with others,” Dr. Klir said. “Now it looks much like it did in the early part of the 20th century.”
During the summer of 2007, the wood that made up the outside of the structure was removed, labeled and put in storage. Due to rotted wood and other issues, the newly-restored depot is approximately four inches shorter than the original structure. New joists, flooring, roofing and ceilings were installed. The wainscoting and beadboad on the inside is all original.
“You can tell in some places that this wood is not new but I think it turned out pretty well,” Dr. Klir said as he looked around the depot lobby Thursday. “I wish it was done. To me, it was quite an accomplishment to get it this far.”
Before he passed away in October 2007, Joe Klir scoured eBay, antique stores, auctions and garage sales to acquire old railroad signs, lights and signals, as well as an old telegraph machine and other lost pieces of railroad history to make the depot as authentic as possible. Dr. Klir used those items and found some of his own; he has established a small museum in the baggage area of the old depot to help people understand the significant role of the railroad in the nation’s history.
The depot also includes a lobby where passengers waited with a schedule board and pot-bellied stove. The agent’s office has a wrap-around desk, signal unit and bay window so the agent could see the trains coming. The baggage room also includes doors on both sides for transfer of items to a train or out the door for some other mode of transportation.
The basement will include a working model train and other memorabilia. Portions of the track are laid.
A signal house has also been salvaged and placed near the depot. The signal house was given to Dr. Klir and he found a picture of it on the Internet. When he contacted the person who was in possession of the photo, he sent it to Dr. Klir.
All in all, the project has been a labor of love. Many friends and family members have helped along the way and Klir has reached a goal.
“There are three reasons I wanted to do this project. One, I love history and we are so quick to let the wrecking ball take our past. Two, this was a passion of my father and mine and once we started, I had to finish,” Klir said. “Third, it was a challenge. No one thought it could be done. No one was interested in doing it and they didn’t think I could.”
It wasn’t always easy.
“I can remember Dad and I going out to where the depot used to be and we’d go inside and look around and just sigh. Then we’d get to work,” Klir added. “The whole time we were pulling boards and labeling them and loading in the back of the truck I was thinking, ‘What are we doing? Is this worth it?’ And I think he was saying that to himself, too. We just kept working and neither one of us said it out loud. Thank goodness or this would have never gotten done.”
Klir still has plans to enhance the grounds the depot sits on with 175 feet of track, a replica of an old train handcar to run up and down the track and a Boston & Maine caboose.
The depot itself is nearly finished and Dr. Klir would like to share it with others. An open house for the depot is planned for 1-3 p.m. Oct. 25. The depot stands on Klir’s property on Road 22K south of Cloverdale.
#1 — Added 4 months, 4 weeks ago
Der Wes and Family, How very proud your dad would be on this day. He would be playing his music with a big grin on his face and be so happy for you. Congratulations
Fred and Rosemary Class of 61 CHHS
Posted on October 20, 2009 at 8:35 am by Fred amd Rosemary Ham
#2 — Added 4 months, 4 weeks ago
Your Dad & Uncle Ken are both smiling from heaven. I’m sorry that they, along with Gram, can’t be here to see the dream fulfilled. Personally, I’m happy to know that their love of trains lives on!
Posted on October 20, 2009 at 12:11 pm by Donna McClanahan
#3 — Added 3 months, 1 week ago
My Dad, Eugene Keesler, used to work on that railroad. He still remembers working on that job, if you want to ask him. He is now a resident at the Meadows of Kalida and is a patient of Dr. Klir. It’s good to hear about someone trying to preserve the past instead of throwing it away. An odd coincedence–the open house was held on Dad’s birthday.
Posted on December 5, 2009 at 9:38 am by Carol Paino