Letter: Restore and return Depot to community use

On behalf of the Friends of the Weston Depot Corporation (westondepotfriends.org, a 501(c)(3) non-profit), I would like to reply to the recent letter from Michael Hecht (Weston Observer, Sept. 18). We, like Mr. Hecht, are concerned about the degraded condition of the 1881 Depot on the Rail Trail. At the conclusion of land-lease negotiations with the MBTA, we plan major fund-raising for building restoration. We all want to see the Depot returned to community use.

Where we disagree with Mr. Hecht is that it is our educated opinion (four of our directors are preservation architects) that the original building remains restorable. We have no wish to construct a replica, nor do we wish to move it off site. Our opinion is shared by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Historical Commission, which recently determined that, “despite its deteriorated condition, (the) building retains sufficient integrity to convey its historic associations and is eligible for listing…” on the National Register of Historic Places. This honor is one we plan to pursue, with the support of Weston’s Historical Commission.

We thank Mr. Hecht for his interest and welcome all comments and suggestions via our website. Please stay tuned!

Alicia Primer, Church Street