Update, December 13, 2003
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Dear Friends of the Slaton Harvey House project:
The Slaton Railroad Heritage Association thanks you again for your great
support. I’m enclosing an update on our Harvey House restoration progress
and activities. We are fortunate to have so many people across the country
who believe in this important project, and especially lucky to have so many
Slaton volunteers who work year after year to keep the project moving.
Our Board members are: Mary Allen, Dena Baker, Patsy Boyd, Almarine
Childers, E.C. Davidson, Jim Davis, Sue Davis, Don Kendrick, Jim
McMeekan,
Merle Neill, Tony Privett, Clark Self, Judy Thomas, Sandra Thomas, Winnie
Vaughn, & Jeff Wilson. Please join me in thanking these good citizens for
their hard work. If you are interested in joining our volunteers in a
leadership position, please feel free to contact any of our Board members.
2003 Activities
In June, we were blessed to have been included on the historic BNSF passenger train itinerary. More than one hundred of our contributors enjoyed a tour inside the train and Harvey House, with wonderful food & decorations provided by the Slaton Bakery, Klemke’s Sausage
Haus, and Pauline’s flowers. The following month, the Lubbock Model Railroaders put
together a fabulous display for our July 4 open house, with refreshments donated by Dr. George
Privett. More than 200 residents and visitors stopped by to see our progress and renew friendships.
We continue to receive great publicity around the region for our project, including a major story in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, and an upcoming article scheduled to run on the AAA Magazine web site next spring. A documentary film company from Ft. Worth has begun production of a video that will highlight the restoration of the historic building, including
interviews with many people who worked in the Harvey House. They plan to have the video ready for broadcast and purchase when we open the museum next year.
First Floor Construction
Final construction plans are in Austin for approval by the Texas Dept. of Transportation and the Texas Historic Commission. We hope to have the first floor museum, kitchen, & community room open by Spring or Summer 2004.
Second Floor Construction
We’ve been invited to apply for a large Economic Development Administration grant. If successful, we should have enough money to finish the second floor in about a year. Keep your fingers crossed!
Fund Raising
Contributions have steadily increased with all our activities this year, and in the anticipation of our grand opening. We still need to raise nearly $200,000 in matching grants, so if you are thinking of some end-of-year donations, I hope you’ll keep us in mind. We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible.
We’ve just received notification of another $10,000 donation, honoring Slaton pioneers. Our Board will be considering a special outside display to honor the $10,000+ donors. Please call or email me if you have questions about our donor recognition levels.
I thank each of you again for your interest and support of the Slaton Harvey House. It has been a long process, but the building will soon be open and available for use by residents, visitors, historians, and school children for generations to come. Slaton’s important railroad heritage will be preserved, thanks to your help.
Please contact me if I can assist you in any way. I look forward to seeing you at our grand opening in 2004!
With gratitude,
Tony Privett
President
Slaton Railroad Heritage Assn.
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