Most of you have heard by now of the near disaster which took place at the depot during the winter. We had our water pipes to freeze and burst which produced a flood to say the least. The leak was discovered by Brenda Meadors as she arrived to open on Saturday morning. We had always managed to survive each precious winter without so much as a drip but not this year.

The water lines in our building were all located in the attic. This proved to be fortunate for us in some ways but not in others. The major burst occurred over the train exhibit room and above the main entrance. The ceilings had huge pockets of water with many spots peeling. Those first few hours were awful for those of us who saw firsthand what damaged had been done.

The following individuals were there to help wherever it was needed: Whitley County Judge Executive Pat White, Jose Bunch who is the Emergency Management Director and Williamsburg Management Director, Ken Mobley who sent a work detail of volunteers from the Whitley County Detention Center, Whitley County Rescue Squad, Cumberland College workers, Roy and Mary Alice Siler, Regina, Matt and Zack Barnhill, John Stiner, Brenda and Darrell Meadors, Justeen Wilson, Eva Smith and Lewis Longworth. These people got stuck with a huge mess. Water was everywhere and things had to be moved in a hurry. Nobody stood around with their hands in their pockets.

We were very fortunate to not lose the first old picture, book or note. Our library was spared any water damage and with all the workers the dampness never go even close to that room . We did however receive damage to the private collection of model trains collectibles that Darrell Meadors had furnished for a display. That display was directly under the worst of the water. We received damage to several of the newly printed CROLEY FUNERAL HOME BOOKS. We will decide at a later date as to what we will do with these items.

We happily report that we are back open for business as of this date. WAYNE’S WORLD OF CARPET donated new carpet for our train room and also installed it for us. Darrell will need a little time to redo his display. The workers from the University of the Cumberlands had finished their painting so it’s now business as usual for the WHITLEY COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.