Rendering of a planned accessible entrance ramp and exterior repairs at the Lansdale Freight House. (Credit: Discover Lansdale)
General Contractor Gordon H. Baver, Inc., who also built Lansdale's Borough Hall within the historic brick walls of the town's old post office, was selected in a bidding process under state guidelines
Keep your eyes on your iconic Lansdale Freight House — you'll see a lot of buzz around the building in the next few months!
Last week, Discover Lansdale signed a contract to begin the rehabilitation of Lansdale's historic landmark. This agreement is the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes efforts by Discover Lansdale — who purchased the depot in 2016 to rescue a town treasure from the wrecking ball — and its Freight House team.
"The freight station is symbolic," said Bill Henning, president of the board of Discover Lansdale and chair of DL's Freight House Committee. "Lansdale’s history is deeply tied to the rail line that runs through it, and restoring the Freight House is more than just preserving an old building. It is about protecting and honoring our town's history, while also creating a multipurpose space for our community's use, for years to come."
General Contractor Gordon H. Baver, Inc. (who also built Lansdale's Borough Hall within the historic brick walls of the town's old post office) was selected in a bidding process under state guidelines. They'll start work shortly, turning the long-abandoned, 123-year-old stone structure into a vibrant community resource for the next century.
Rendering showing a new office and restroom area, new lighting, and repaired windows and floors inside the Lansdale Freight House. (Credit: Discover Lansdale)"It’s been amazing to see how many people have been involved in this project through the years," Henning said. "I think a lot of it is because they like what the rehabilitated station’s purpose will be.”
Many have asked what the plans are for the Lansdale Freight House. While full details and plans can be found on Discover Lansdale's Freight House website, the goal is to restore the stately stone structure as a Welcome Center for visitors, a display area for our town's industrial heritage, and a one-of-a-kind, open-concept venue for events both indoor and outdoor, civic and private.
Watch for many more details coming soon — including news of our plans for a "groundbreaking ceremony" with a twist on May 22 — via Discover Lansdale's Freight House website and the Discover Lansdale Freight House Facebook page.
Be a Friend of the Freight House
As construction begins, we ask you once again to help us reach our goal —please consider making a donation directly to the Freight House rehabilitation project.
We still have a ways to go to fully fund the restoration effort. And we can't reach the finish line without the continued support of our community! Every dollar given goes directly to every nail, every board, every Freight House fixture.
Become a Friend of the Freight House:
Bookmark lansdalefreighthouse.org and return often.
Follow our Facebook Freight House page.
Join our growing list of donors.
And if you own or manage an area business, this is your chance to become part of a lasting testament to the town. Consider sponsorship of the Lansdale Freight House. Sponsorship offers valuable benefits, including site signage, promotion on social media and email communications, door plaques, naming rights, and permanent acknowledgement on the dedication plaque in the Freight House foyer. For more details, click here, or email me directly at [email protected] to start the conversation.
Got questions or ideas? Just ask. As always, we thank you for your continued support of our efforts to make our borough an ever-better place to live, work, play and experience! See you soon, at our first First Friday, May 2!
