SE students join historical rebuilding project
by Diana De Leon, Feature Editor

    The first iron horse came through what is now the City of Arlington in 1876 to a railway station in downtown. Although demolished almost 50 years ago, the station will be rebuilt through a joint project including TCC.
    The rebuilding of the train depot is a community effort spearheaded by the Arlington Historical Society.
    "The train station is the reason that the City of Arlington is here," Geraldine Mills, Historical Society director, said.
     Arlington has many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and this new railway station will become a part of the city's rich heritage.
     "We want it on the exact spot, and we want to protect the integrity of the original architecture," Martha Martin, chair of the project for the Arlington Historical Society, said.
     The society wanted to involve the community, so representatives went to SE Campus' architectural technology program with a request that was answered with enthusiasm.
     The society needed drawings of the building for cost estimates and a model to be used to generate interest in the project.
     The problem was the station had been demolished in 1952, and no architectural drawings or pictures of the original building could be found.
     Although Texas has many train stations, finding plans for the Arlington station proved challenging.
     A determined Martin eventually found plans at the National Archives in College Park, Md.
     "We are using an old footprint sketch from 1917 and old pictures from Texas Pacific Railway," Arnie Radman, AT program coordinator, said.
     Radman assembled a volunteer team of students who will work on the project for no class credit, but for the experience.
     Some preliminary drawings depicting the exterior of the station have been presented to the Historical Society, but work is still in progress.
     "We are really proud of the group Arnie put together," Mills said. "You can really see what it's gonna look like." Radman explained that history is reflected in the architecture of the time, and he said he is happy that TCC is a part of this project.
     The team from the college will generate a floor plan, elevation plans, wall section plan and a roof plan.
     "We cannot build the model until we have something to go by," Radman said.
     About eight students currently are involved with the drawing process, and more will join the group when the model process begins.
     All the students have varying degrees of experience with architectural drawings and models.
     As well, all of the students are currently members of the American Institute of Architectural Students, which will be a bonus for future employment.
     "This will be great experience for them," Radman said. "They can put this in their portfolio because employers love this stuff."
     Gordan Robertson, assistant director planning for the Arlington Parks Department, explained that the city is behind the project and is happy to be working with the other groups involved.
     "We, the city, will have a part to play," he said; "it is being worked out as we speak."
     Robertson said more citizen groups need to become involved.
     Speaking of the community's involvement, Martin stressed that the project will benefit Arlington.
     The Historical Society envisions more than a railway station; it wants to bring people into downtown Arlington, according to Martin.
     "We want to boost redevelopment," she said. "This will lay the groundwork for heritage tours."
     The society and the city plan to move the historical cabins now at Arkansas and Matlock across the street from the new depot. Plans also call for a learning center, which will include space for community group meetings.
     Maps of historic places within walking distance and beyond will take tourists around downtown Arlington.
     Rotating displays of railroad history, photos and the history of the city will be featured in the station as well as other displays of interest. The society wants to staff the depot, coordinate the volunteers and possibly operate a gift shop according to Martin.
     Martin said the Historical Society's interests include planning the exhibits as well as managing and coordinating the depot's educational, cultural and historical programs.
     "The depot and the center will be interconnected," she said. "We are thinking festivals like Depot Days."
     Participating organizations are currently working on cost estimates for the project.
     The architectural model built by TCC students will be used to gain support and interest in the project.
     "We are going to try to have the model ready sometime in June," Radman said.
     The station will be built around 100 W. Front St. in downtown Arlington. The cabins will move to Knapp Heritage Park.
     The learning center will be built in the same area as the cabins, but all buildings, including the new station, will be interconnected with cultural and educational programs.
     "We want the community involved; that's why we have TCC involved," Martin said.
     When TCC students finish the drawings, the Society will hand the drawings over to an architect who will determine costs for the project.
     Once this process is over, the collaborative effort between the city and the Arlington Historical Society will produce a grant proposal for funding of the project.
     Although the iron horse will not run through the station, visitors can learn about Arlington's history and enjoy many educational and cultural events.