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Big Valley station banks on restored roof

The Big Valley railroad station is sporting a new cedar shingle roof
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A new cedar shingle roof on the 100-year-old Big Valley railroad station is expected to add decades to the landmark’s life. Work is now being done on the building’s interior to repair damage that a leaking roof caused.

The Big Valley railroad station is sporting a new cedar shingle roof — an effort to preserve the century-old building for the generations to come.

Rich Graydon, a volunteer with the Canadian Northern Society, which co-ordinated the project, said the group continually strives to preserve the historical buildings and “keep them original.”

Work is now being done on the building’s interior to repair damage that a leaking roof caused.

The project is estimated to cost $45,000.

Graydon said funds raised by the Canadian Northern Society, donations from the community of Big Valley, and the possibility of a matching grant from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, are expected to cover the cost.

The Big Valley station is one of three owned by Canadian Northern Society — the others are at Meeting Creek and Camrose.

Graydon said each station is of a different architectural design. The three designs were commonly used by the CNR in towns across the prairies, he said.

“Stations were quick to disappear, once they were no longer needed,” Graydon said.

Fortunately, in Big Valley, the Big Valley Historical Society originally undertook the task of preserving the station.

For more than 20 years, the impressively restored station has been cared for by the Canadian Northern Society.

Graydon said the group remodelled the freight storage area into a community room.

“It’s nice to see that room used by the community,” he said.