Shawmont Station Renovations Have Begun
After what felt like a dreadfully long wait to many locals concerned with the state of Shawmont Train Station, the structural rehabilitation of historic landmark began on January 18, 2023.
SEPTA and Contractor Donald E. Resinger anticipate the completion date for the work to be sometime in July 2023 (obviously barring any unforeseen issues in the renovation, severe weather issues, etc.). The scope of the work includes replacement of joists, roofing, decks, windows, doors, and more in order to shore up the structure.
Photo by Leonard Gryn
Photo by Georgie Gould
Work is being done Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.; however, because the structure is extremely close to active railroad tracks, working at night will be required on occasion to ensure safety.
When the structural improvement work is done, and the building is sound, it will still not be ready for occupation/use. At that time a tenant will be sought to occupy the station. Whoever wins the bid process to occupy the spot will be responsible for completing any additional work they require to have it meet their organization/business needs.
Other "retired" stations in the Philadelphia area have become coffee shops, cafes, used bookstores, offices, etc. The new tenant will be responsible for ongoing upkeep.
Photo by Georgie Gould
Rehab Progress to be Posted on RMWHS.org
Our the new Shawmont Station profile in Local Landmarks (see announcement on new web section below) provides:
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photos of the progress
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an image gallery of the station past & present
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newspaper clippings and articles
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a historic timeline by John Johnstone, Historian
If you have news clippings, photos, or documents you think should be added to the profile, please contact us.
John Johnstone, Historian &
Shawmont Station Advocate
Visitor Warnings: If you decide to stop by and see the progress in person, you are urged to do so with great caution.
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No admittance to the property is allowed.
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There is no parking at the station -- park on Shawmont Ave, take your valuables, lock your car, and watch your step.
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Stay alert -- this is the realm of cyclists and they can appear suddenly and silently.
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Stay off tracks -- trains run regularly and they come through quickly.
Take a Peek Inside the Station...
NBC ran a story that takes you inside for a glimpse at the building and gives you a taste of the history.
If you have photos or video of Shawmont Station past, present, or while work is in progress, share them with RMWHS.
We'd be delighted to see them!
Local Landmarks
RMWHS has launched a new web section -- Local Landmarks. This section provide a profile on significant buildings and sites within our neighborhoods that will include a history, photo gallery, and more.
Currently we have only 3 online but more will be added as volunteers step forward to help. If you would like to contribute photos, newspaper clippings, or help research/write the history of a local landmark, please contact us.
Some of the landmarks are open to the public to visit. However, there are a few that are privately owned. Please be respectful of our neighbors, their property, and the special places in our community,
You Rocked Our World
Since our website launched in December 2019, we've had thousands of visitors from more cities, states, and countries than we ever imagined. The impact was not just felt on the web, but across the organization and has changed us in many ways.
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Research requests have come from 3 different continents as a result of our launch into the public eye. More requests than our volunteers expected, but we address them all despite the language barriers and time zone differences and offer virtual meetings as well as phone calls. We thank everyone near and far for their patience as our 2 volunteer archivists -- Sylvia Myers and I -- respond to questions.
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Membership has more than doubled in size despite the pandemic! Today we have members not just across the city of Philadelphia, but across the United States. Contact us if you're interested in joining.
Marks indicate city locations of our website visitors. While the majority have been from the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, more than 20 countries are represented.
For a state/region/country list of visitor locations, see About Our Website.
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Donations -- both financial and physical -- are being sent in to us. Books, photos, maps, posters, genealogies, manuscripts, and more have come to us in boxes, envelopes, emails attachments, and Christmas cards. People want to see local history, art, and culture saved and are reaching out to help by donating items that they have, find, or inherit to see the materials preserved for the future.
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"Warm Fuzzies" -- Important and intangible benefits have been had as RMWHS has been able to connect individuals doing genealogical/family history research with others working the same family tree/branch. We've been able to connect folks who are half way across the country or around the globe and might not have otherwise been able to find each other. There have also been many questions we've answered that have helped folks discover their ancestors, understand old stories, and separate family fact from fiction. On more than a few occasions we've heard, "I've wondered about that for decades, and now I know -- thank you."
But I have not disclosed all of this to brag or boast but rather as a means to legitimize my statement that I am truly humbled by the response RMWHS has had to creating a presence on the web. I hope each of you will continue to visit rmwhs.org for years to come to see how our website and organization grow. I also offer you the opportunity to become a member and/or to volunteer to help us with our mission to preserve and promote local history, art, and culture.
Wishing you Peace and Joy in 2023.
Georgie Gould, President, RMWHS
Memorials of the 21st Ward
RMWHS has launched a new web section -- Memorials of the 21st Ward -- which provides a listing of the 8 memorials within our area and includes a photo gallery of each.
Each memorial page will be expanded in the months and years to come as images and newspapers clippings (both new and historic) are added. If you would like to contribute an image or information for any of the memorials, please contact us. Also, if we have missed a public memorial within the Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon area, please let us know.
Each of the memorials is open to the public and all visitors (including service animals) are welcome.
We remind all visitors to be respectful not only to the memorial and grounds, but of the others who may be there remembering loved ones lost, for whom these special places were created to honor.
