Supplied September 29, 2010 by Bob Schoppe

Today is a beautiful day in Como. We are experiencing an "Indian Summer" - warmer and later than any in recent memory. Yesterday I helped David board up the depot for the winter. There is a door we can still enter any time, but the windows, doors and open areas around the foundation are now closed off.

We had been planning for some time to restore the crossbucks just south of the depot, and yesterday seemed like an ideal time to take them down. Before we worked on the depot we soaked the bolt/nut with WD-40 and let it sit for the next few hours while we closed up the depot. When I got ready to put two large crescent wrenches on the large square heads of the bolt and nut, I tried turning it with just my fingers and to my AMAZEMENT the nut came all the way off. The east crossbuck came right off and the west one after a few taps on the bolt got it to pass through the concrete support. I felt a little sad at removing them but I took the ease at which they came off as a sign from the "Como Gods" that they approve of our efforts. Next spring we will straighten and repaint the concrete support, and reattach the restored crossbucks.

The Denver, South Park and Pacific Historical Society is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and is sponsoring the fund raising drive for the matching funds requirement for this next and subsequent phases. If you would like to help this most worthy project, donations would be greatly appreciated (and NO amount is too small) and as such all donations are tax deductible. Receipts will be provided. Checks can be sent to:

The Denver, South Park and Pacific Historical Society
P. O. Box 26
Buena Vista, CO 81211-0026

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Crossbuck support. This view shows the preformed contours of the concrete support to keep the crossbucks at a 45 degree angle.

This cast concrete post was first placed in the 1920's. Remarkable!

Crossbucks. This view shows the amazing condition the cross bucks are in after approximately 80 years exposed to the South Park winters with no maintenance whatsoever!

David, Sept 2010. This view shows David on the ladder as the depot is boarded up for the winter. The two doors have plexiglass over them. A temporary access door in the old freight door can still be utilized.

New depot support. This view shows the northeast corner of the depot addition. The timber support measures 12" X 12" and is firmly secured to a concrete base.

Original depot supports. Here we see the remains of 3 of the original depot supports. These sat on the ground and as they were failing, the north addition to the depot was literally falling away from the original building.

On a clear day in December, 2010 a stop at the depot by Bob Schoppe revealed the three new chimneys in place. Just one more sign of the progress being slowly made to this historic structure. It is hoped that the new roof will be applied soon which should pretty well seal up and keep the weather out. Fortunately, the usual South Park winter hasn't taken its toll yet this year.