By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A special presentation will be held at the Pennsy Depot in Decatur when this weekend’s Adams County Christmas Home Tours is scheduled.
Dan Steele, a local train enthusiast, will be displaying his railroad memorabilia that day, including a working model train.
The Adams County Historical Society and the Berne Chamber have organized the event set for this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14, from 1-6 p.m. both days.
Tickets are $20 per person and are available in advance at the Next Page Bookstore in Decatur and the Berne Chamber office.
Tickets will be available throughout the two-day event as they can be purchased at each of the participating locations.
“You set your own pace and start wherever you choose,” a tours spokesperson said. “The tickets will be checked at each location and you can go to as many or as few as you want.
“In fact, if you choose to split the days up and do some both Saturday and Sunday, that is fine as well.”
BUILT IN 1902: The train depot was built in 1902, moving the original Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad depot west of the tracks to serve as a freight house.
The depot features a gabled roof with center gables, parapet gables and ornamental vents. Its principal material is brick with a solid stone base and stone belts beneath the windows.
The G.R. & I. Railroad began entering Adams County on December 25, 1871, and was eventually absorbed by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Service was provided from Decatur to Fort Wayne and Michigan as well as St, Louis, Cincinnati and Chicago.
The last passenger train to pass through the Decatur depot was on September 5, 1961.
After a volunteer committee created a plan, raised funds and completed its restoration from 2016-2018, the depot is now owned by the City of Decatur as a new and refurbished entertainment venue that can be rented for private events.
SEVEN MORE: The two-day tour will include seven other visits:
* The Dugan Mansion/Museum in Decatur.
* The home of Rick and Emily Sovine above their Next Page Bookstore in Decatur.
* The historic Yager House at 246 S. Second St. in Decatur.
* The Limberlost Cabin in Geneva.
* The Matt and Mackenzie Billington home, 262 Lehman St. in Berne.
*The Trace and Lee Howard home, 305 Dearborn St. in Berne.
* The Swiss Heritage church and school, Berne.
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