For a number of weeks, I’d heard rumors that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway was planning to tear down the Havasu, a historic Harvey House railroad station, in the Route 66 town of Seligman, Ariz.
I’d tried to get BNSF officials to confirm or deny it, to no avail. Today, BNSF media contact Lena Kent confirmed it, but it’s somewhat better news that I’d had expected:
The Harvey House in Seligman eventually will be taken down however there is not a timeframe as to when that will happen. I can tell you that it will not happen in 2007 and am not sure if it will take place in 2008.
Kent wasn’t saying why the Havasu is being torn down, but several people close to the action have reported “asbestos abatement.”
So it has been confirmed that BNSF wants to raze the Havasu, but the long timeline gives preservationists a lot of time to take action. A story today in the Arizona Republic also confirmed this.
According to the Republic, a group called Friends of the Havasu has lined up three potential investors in the property who could restore it, citing La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., as an example.
There also is going to be a meeting later in the week with Seligman officials and preservationists in an effort to see what can be done.
Rail buff and Route 66er Brian Kreimendahl has taken the lead on this and have provided contact information. He encourages you to write BNSF and ask them to not raze the Havasu and give preservationists a chance:
Matthew K. Rose
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
BNSF Railway Company
P.O.Box 961056
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0056
817-867-6100
E-mail: Matthew.Rose(at)bnsf.com
Anne Gill
Director – Office of the Chairman
BNSF Railway Company
P.O.Box 961056
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0056
817-867-6250
E-mail: Anne.Gill(at)bnsf.com
He also asks that you write to Gov. Janet Napolitano, Sen. John McCain, Sen. John Kyl and Rep. Rick Renzi. (Contact information is in the links.)