Historic sign stolen from Lawrence Amtrak station
The neon sign was first put on the building in 1955, but a few weeks ago it disappeared. Enlarge video
Lawrence police are investigating the disappearance of the neon “Lawrence” sign from the roof of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Depot in east Lawrence. Depot Redux, the community organization leading an effort to restore the 1950s train station, which accommodates Amtrak riders, noticed the sign missing nearly a month ago.
“We thought Amtrak had authorized the removal of the sign,” said Carey Maynard-Moody, president of Depot Redux.
But Amtrak officials told Maynard-Moody they did not know why the sign would have been removed. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Corp., who owns the building, also had no clue where the sign was. Maynard-Moody then contacted the city manager’s office.
“We had not been aware that the sign had been removed until it was reported to us,” said Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard.
The sign was one of two installed during the 1955 construction of the depot after floodwaters destroyed the original station. Amtrak was slated to restore both signs to their original condition, but that plan may be in jeopardy if the sign isn’t recovered.
“If you have an original design, you can replicate that with new construction,” said Depot Redux member and architect Stan Hernly. The sign could be replicated in its 1950s style, but Hernly said “it’s always best to have the original sign.”
A community effort to restore the entire station still hangs in the balance as city commissioners continue to search for funding. Their bid for a federal grant was recently rejected, but restoring the signs is a separate issue.
“We don’t anticipate the fact that the sign is missing to affect the restoration plan,” said Stoddard, “except for to say that particular sign is a very integral piece of the original architecture of the building."
Preserving the building’s historical architecture is one of the most important goals for Depot Redux.
“All we want is for it to come back,” said Maynard-Moody. “There’s nothing like the original.”
Comments
LogicMan 2 years, 8 months ago
What's actually missing? The letters, or just the neon tubes, etc. The picture just shows the tubes missing.
If the letters, what were they made of? If copper, stainless steel, etc., they probably met the same fate as those air conditioners.
jhawk0097 2 years, 8 months ago
Originally there were two signs on the platform, one on each end.
igby 2 years, 8 months ago
It was those dam "Pickers" from Iowa that on the history channel! Lol.
AreUNorml 2 years, 8 months ago
if only I'd get up on time, I'd have beat you to that joke!
aa469285 2 years, 8 months ago
Frat house scavenger hunt.
KU_cynic 2 years, 8 months ago
Frankly, I just don't understand some people's attachment to the train depot. The sign was quite stylish . . . perhaps the only element of the station worth saving in my opinion. If it can't be found, perhaps we can get on with destroying this "icon" and replacing it with a more functional structure.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 2 years, 8 months ago
The structure is plenty functional enough-- it just needs a little fixing up/updating to current standards. Fixing the current structure would be much cheaper than building an entirely new one.
I'm not a big fan of 50's architecture, but it's certainly no worse than contemporary architecture (Oread Hotel?)
snap_pop_no_crackle 2 years, 8 months ago
Shout Felony!
grammaddy 2 years, 8 months ago
Sounds like a fraternity prank to me.Has anyone checked fraternity row?
AreUNorml 2 years, 8 months ago
nope just alcohol and roofies over there.
tanaumaga 2 years, 8 months ago
look at me, I'm ranting.
fester0420 2 years, 8 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
Hydra 2 years, 8 months ago
North Lawrence can read signs?
PopcoRN 2 years, 8 months ago
This train depot isn't in North Lawrence. It's the one a few blocks east of Mass St on 7th Street.
fester0420 2 years, 8 months ago
no its in n. lawrence
fester0420 2 years, 8 months ago
i ment ya in e. lawrence oops
Hydra 2 years, 8 months ago
PopcoRN is from North Lawrence?
catiefan 2 years, 8 months ago
I think northtown was referring to the old depot, which is now the Lawrence Visitor Center. It is indeed in N. Lawrence.
PopcoRN 2 years, 8 months ago
I interpreted Hydra's comment as a joke/slam against North Lawrence residents, as if they would be too illiterate to notice a missing sign. However, the sign in question is missing from the depot that is East of Mass St on 7th, not the Union Pacific Depot that is just across the bridge in North Lawrence.
And no, I don't live in North Lawrence, although I drive around over there once in a while when my son and I go train hunting or when I get hungry for La Tropicana food!
Kontum1972 2 years, 8 months ago
mb it was Al Queida...Holy Terrorism Batman!
AreUNorml 2 years, 8 months ago
if we don't rebuild those letters, the terrorists win.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT 2 years, 8 months ago
Nothing noble left.
hawkergirl 2 years, 8 months ago
Shouldn't it read the "neon FROM the Lawrence sign"? Come on!
wpike 2 years, 8 months ago
I think its safe to assume the photo is a "stock photo" to show what the stolen sign looks like. And that neon was most likely broke many years ago.
catiefan 2 years, 8 months ago
No, the photo in the paper is of the other "Lawrence" sign that is still on the roof of the station. There were two identical signs, and one was stolen.
PopcoRN 2 years, 8 months ago
QUOTE: Amtrak was slated to restore both signs to their original condition, but that plan may be in jeopardy if the sign isn’t recovered.
“If you have an original design, you can replicate that with new construction,” said Depot Redux member and architect Stan Hernly. The sign could be replicated in its 1950s style, but Hernly said “it’s always best to have the original sign.” END QUOTE
I can see where having the original sign to restore would help with restoring it. LOL
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
Another reason to not spend much on the station. It's in a unprotected location, and the building has only 1950's non-style, About 1 year ago, I spent one early morning (2,00 A.M.) waiting for a Westbound Amtrak that was 1 hour late; talk about an uncomfortable feeling. Not one patrol came by during my wait.
fester0420 2 years, 8 months ago
not like they needed to were u robed or somting.
mr_right_wing 2 years, 8 months ago
Check e-bay.
mr_right_wing 2 years, 8 months ago
Does anyone on here know who "Defender" really is (in person)? I think you might want to check on him (or her?)...something is very wrong. 2 replies in a row to my posts and I haven't been called an idiot or anything like that. I'm a little nervous now.
IslandContributor 2 years, 8 months ago
What am I missing in the title becasue to me it sounds like the title is giving props to the thiefs. Great train station robbery! Im just a little confused
garyr 2 years, 8 months ago
Sounds like the work of the Apple Dumpling Gang!!!!
Danimal 2 years, 8 months ago
Well that settles it, Lawrence should just bulldoze this station and call it good. Seriously, I'll never understand why Lawrence wants to use that dump in east Lawrence and not the old Union Pacific train depot just across the river for Amtrak. It would seem like all the construction at that intersection is going to make it easier to get in and out of their anyway, and I'm sure you could set up the greyhound station in one of those parking lots.
Sucks that someone stole that sign, I hope that they return it. But again, if the people involved in restoring the structure aren't paying enough attention to notice a sign has been stolen what's the point in restoring it?
Yeoman2 2 years, 8 months ago
Danimal, the "tracks" in North Lawrence belong to the Union Pacific and go northwest to Marysville and Gibbon, Nebraska. Amtrak does not use this route. The BNSF (former AT&SF) tracks go to Emporia and west, the current and former passenger route to California. There has been no passenger service in North Lawrence since 1971. You need to get current with these facts before making this sort of suggestion.
Danimal 2 years, 8 months ago
I know those are UP tracks, and that the Amtrak station is on the BNSF line. But hey, last time I checked, this is still America. And last time I checked Americans are pretty good at building railroad tracks, so lets build a spur line over to the old depot. I would be a little more expensive than restoring the old station in east Lawrence, but frankly the current station isn't worth the investment. This way Lawrence could have a passenger train station that isn't an eyesore and an embarrassment to the community, and still has some legitimate historical character.
Another good option is destroying the current station and replacing it with something functional and attractive in roughly the same area.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 2 years, 8 months ago
" so lets build a spur line over to the old depot. I would be a little more expensive than restoring the old station in east Lawrence, "
Given that it would also require a bridge across the Kaw, the cost would be quite substantial.
To use the Depot in NL, the SW Chief would have likely to be diverted to UP tracks in KC, and then back again somewhere before Topeka if it's to maintain the rest of its current route.
kernal 2 years, 8 months ago
Danimal, the city doesn't own that station, BNSFdoes and they're not going to put money into the existing station, much less build a new one.
Yeoman2 2 years, 8 months ago
Nor should they. BNSF is in the business of moving freight from the west coast inland, you know your Chinese crap at Wal-Mart and other "American" retailers. They are not in, nor will they ever be, the passenger business. American railroads fled from this back in 1971.
none2 2 years, 8 months ago
I wanted to add, that if they do make a big deal about bringing back more passenger rail (in my books not likely to happen), then UP would be useful if there was to be a KC-> Denver route. Here is a map of the UP lines:
Also, if anybody likes to play with maps and see what is around, this is a good location for that;
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/natlas/Natlasstart.asp
You have to mess with checking on what you want to see, etc, but at least it gives you an idea what is out there. It doesn't tell you which company uses what. Also note if someone is thinking about it in terms of "what-if" for passanger, do realize that some tracks would have to be upgraded first.
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
I've caught trains (passenger not freights) at both Lawrence stations; the North is the better of the two. The UP (North Lawrence) quit running passenger service back in the 60's and Amtrak needed to sign-on with the Santa Fe to follow the old Chief-Super Chief route for the new "Southwest Chief" to operate. The UP was awarded the Amtrak "Empire Builder" that runs from Chicago to San Francisco through Omaha and Denver; tracks to the North of us.
The worst part, the old Santa Fe station (at same location as present one) was a classic and was torn down for the "Ugly" in the 1950's. That one would have been worth saving.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 2 years, 8 months ago
"The worst part, the old Santa Fe station (at same location as present one) was a classic and was torn down for the "Ugly" in the 1950's. That one would have been worth saving."
Wasn't it badly damaged in the floods of the early fifties? Do you think it could have been salvaged.
none2 2 years, 8 months ago
I wonder if there are any pictures of the old station. One one of the times that I took Amtrak was when Emporia was still a stop. They had a nice looking station, but somehow it burnt down in 1999. This link mentions it (search for Emporia):
http://www.harveyhouses.net/states/kansas/kshouses.html
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
My recollection, it did have some foundation issues due to flood damage. Since it was owned by the Santa Fe and not the City, SF did not want to face repair costs that and liability probably scared them off from saving it. I'll bet the Feds kicked in a lot of money for them to tear down and rebuilt Also the was more train service during that period.
But I think it could have been saved. To see a flood related picture of the old station go to: ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/fld51 Then click on Lawrence, toward bottom of picture set.
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
None2 Tried to highlight but did not work.
ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/fld51
Click on Lawrence, old station is near bottom of picture set!
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
None2 Tried to highlight but did not work.
ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/fld51
Click on Lawrence, old station is near bottom of picture set!
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
None2 Tried to highlight but did not work.
ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/fld51
Click on Lawrence, old station is near bottom of picture set!
DaddyTopCat 2 years, 8 months ago
Sounds to me like a student type "prank." Since there's probably not much copper or anything else in the sign that is worth the time and effort of the crime to pay off, that should narrow it down pretty much to who would want the sign in their dorm room because "it's cool!"
kernal 2 years, 8 months ago
So, is the value of the stolen sign the existing value or the replacement value? Asking since the word "felony" was mentioned. If the is a felony, the pranksters might want to come up with Plan B to avoid the deluxe jail accomodations.
Gene Wallace 2 years, 8 months ago
Welcome Gnome did Not take the sign. You can see that he is pro Amtrack Station in these pictures of him at the Lawrence station. http://www.zazzle.com/welcome_gnome_tshirt-235616508871356929 and http://www.zazzle.com/welcome_gnome_card-137186734978077051 .
oneeye_wilbur 2 years, 8 months ago
Guess the area must not be very secure if a sign on top of a building can be taken. What''s that say about security?
So if the area is not secure why would anyone want to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into the buidling, if the "neighborhood" is not safe?
beatrice 2 years, 8 months ago
http://www2.ljworld.com/marketplace/businesses/yellow-house-store/
none2 2 years, 8 months ago
BlindRabbit, Thank you very much for the link. I don't know why it didn't work for you, but here it is:
Also for the specific picture, I have copied its URL:
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/ljw_18.jpg
(I could have just copied the station's URL, but all the pictures are interesting for those that want to know about the big flood.)
Anyway, it is very obvious that the old station was much nicer than the new one.
nomansland 2 years, 8 months ago
It's too bad that the 1951 flood destroyed the original brick ATSF depot, otherwise we'd be talking about a whole different setup today. From the pics I've seen the original was much larger and attractive. That being said, the idea of running Amtrak on UP tracks instead of the current BNSF is somewhat problematic. For one, it would be for to the UP to decide, not too mention many track upgrades would have to be in place so passenger trains could run at 80 or 90MPH, depending on if the tracks are CTC or ATS controlled. And finally and most importantly, UP run's one of the busiest mainlines in the country between KC and Topeka, much as 60 freights per hour, and this would no doubt interfere with Amtrak operations. The Southwest Chief operates on ATSF's quieter routes for most of it's journey.
kernal 2 years, 8 months ago
The previous building was very picturesque. The current building? There's just no accounting for taste.
blindrabbit 2 years, 8 months ago
The flood caused some damage, but it was not major. The Santa Fe is what destroyed the building. I remember going down there after the flood, building looked fine other than some water damage on the first floor.
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