The last remaining 1920s South Shore Line depot is going to get some needed repairs, thanks to a partnership between Indiana Landmarks and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
The Spanish Colonial Revival station had been slated for demolition some 35 years ago before supporters rallied to save it. The station with its neon Beverly Shores sign is the most photographed, drawn and painted station along the South Shore Line.
Appropriately enough, it houses the Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery, which has been a tenant since 1988.
“Can you imagine if this was gone and we had just a plexiglass and bench station,” museum and art gallery board President Monique Rub said Friday.
The train station is what first comes to mind when people think of Beverly Shores, she said.
Beverly Shores has other landmarks as well, including Lake Front Drive homes from the 1933 Century of Progress show in Chicago.
The tiny town also has the distinction of being the seventh community in the world to meet standards to achieve an international dark sky community designation, Rue added. Lighting in the town is focused down, not up and out. Indiana Dunes National Park’s Kemil Beach is a popular spot for stargazing.
“We own the structure, NIPSCO owns the land, and the structure needs significant improvement,” NICTD General Manager and President Michael Noland said in August when the NICTD board approved a 50-year extension on its lease.
“We think this is a very good lease opportunity for us and to really put this historic station in the hands of people who really know what they’re doing,” he said.
Through a long-term, 100-year lease between NICTD and Indiana Landmarks, the latter will provide access to grants and other forms of assistance.
Indiana Landmarks has long been active in the town. It’s now working to stabilize the House of Tomorrow with the intent for it to be operated as a short-term rental property. Other World’s Fair homes in the town have been renovated by tenants in exchange for the right to live there under a lease with the National Park Service.
“Partnerships form the backbone of our work across the state to preserve historic places,” Indiana Landmarks President Brad Ward said in a news release. “We are thrilled to work with regional leader NICTD to further the Beverly Shores Depot Museum and Art Gallery’s work to ensure this landmark is enjoyed by the community.”
Rub said the tiled roof is original, and the basement will need to be addressed within the next few years. That’s about $400,000 worth of work. NICTD is providing $50,000 toward repairs and an annual contribution to help with ongoing maintenance.
“Preserving this historic piece of our history and the Samuel Insull era of the railroad takes a group effort,” Noland said. “This strategic partnership brings Indiana Landmarks into the fold to help secure much-needed resources for this community and regional asset, and we are most grateful.”
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.