The Medina Railroad Museum suffered extensive damage Thursday evening when lightening struck its historic brick chimney.
Caretaker Roland Holler was standing in the front depot entrance near the ticket booth when he heard a loud explosion, reports museum volunteer and technician Dave Moore. The chimney, located on the section of roof above Holler’s head, was instantly blown to pieces causing a blow out of the alarm system and surveillance cameras.
No one was injured in the incident, although the building’s live-in cat, visibly shaken, scampered to find a safe hiding place and didn’t emerge for six hours, Moore said.
“The strike was so powerful ... (that) it actually shook the building,” said Marty Phelps, the museum’s owner and director.
An automatic call went out to the Medina Fire Department when the alarm system was hit, he said. They arrived on the scene shortly after 8 p.m. with a full crew.
Chunks of brick were discovered at least 100 feet in all directions, along the railroad tracks and in the yards of nearby buildings, Phelps said. Firefighters used a thermal imaging unit to ensure the building’s walls weren’t at risk of catching on fire.
According to Moore, total damage costs have yet to be determined. Wiring throughout the entire building was affected, knocking out power, and a fine layer of soot from the building’s early days was shaken loose, dusting select items underneath.
The alarm system, surveillance cameras, computer system, phone system, fax machine and credit card machine may need to be repaired or replaced, Phelps said. Luckily, the museum’s 7,000 plus artifacts and exhibits remained intact, allowing the museum to open at 11 a.m. Friday as scheduled.
“There is quite a bit of damage. ... It’s all over the building. It’s not just in one spot, unfortunately,” Moore said. “There’s no scorch marks, there’s no burn marks. ... We’re still assessing.”
New tenants in the museum’s two upper apartments are also safe, said Promotions Director Linda Klein. She lived in the building until three weeks ago. When the lightening hit in Thursday’s storm, she was visiting family in Albany.
The Medina Railroad Museum is one of the last surviving wooden freight depots in the country. The building was constructed in 1905 and is listed on both the national and state Register of Historic Places.
Phelps said he intends to have the chimney replaced.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Nicole Coleman/Staff
Discussion
MEDINA: Railroad Museum struck by lightening
- Local News
-
- Test story
-
Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods
Medina’s Main Street has more than its fair share of spots to pick up prepared food, but starting this summer there will be a place to buy artisanal bread and locally-grown produce.Dave and Bonnie Reigle have operated a produce stand on their Ridge Road farm for 17 years. They plan to open Reigle’s Market on Main in the former Whole Nine Yards and be open year-round as a bakery and produce store.
-
Lyndonville BoE approves budget propositions
The Lyndonville Board of Education approved the four propositions district residents will vote on May 15, including the school’s $12,964,687 budget.The 2012-13 budget decreases spending by 1.28 percent, but the property tax levy will rise by 1.95 percent to $4,620,374. The estimated property tax rate is $18.40, an increase of 1.38 percent and a bump of a quarter for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
-
Medina BoE OK's budgets for May 15 vote
Medina Central School District residents will have the option this May to vote for a budget that does not raise the property tax levy next year, but does increase the district’s budget by 1.74 percent.
-
Ridgeway sets public hearings
The Ridgeway Town Board will hold two public hearings at its next meeting on May 21.
-
Hoag will host STEM summer camp
The Hoag Library in Albion isn’t set to open until the weekend after Independence Day, but preparations are well underway for a two-week summer camp for a select group of Albion students.
-
Growing like a weed
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Garden Show had a new home this year, and a record crowd came out to Knowlesville for helpful advice, information about local businesses and organizations, and a wide range of activities, promotions and giveaways.
-
Village budget talks continue
Medina’s 2012-13 budget is coming together at a series of meetings between department heads and village board members that largely focus on projected spending plans and areas where cuts can be made and additional revenue can be found.The board met Monday with Police Chief Jose Avila, who said his department budget will be less than the current year despite increasing salaries and associated benefits.
-
Hoag Library era nears in Albion
The transition of Albion's long-time library to a modern South Main Street facility is quickly approaching, which had the Swan Library Board of Trustees discussing the closing of the current library in early June, a month of movement and plans to resume service at the new Hoag Library on the day after the facility's July 7 grand opening at their Wednesday meeting.
-
Pillars hosting Titanic evening
The extravagant experience that the high-class passengers enjoyed on the first and final voyage of the RMS Titanic will be replicated in a dinner at The Pillars Estate’s new ballroom this weekend.The Pillars echoes the luxury liner’s grand staircase and chandelier, with historic touches throughout the restored County House Road mansion’s ballroom.
- More Local News Headlines
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
