The Olde Huntersville Historic Society is a local group celebrating the history of the Town of Huntersville, North Carolina, est. 1873. Our Mission is to collect, preserve and share the stories, pictures and artifacts that represent the history of the Huntersville area and the northern portion of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
The goal of this petition is to relay to the Town of Huntersville that we value the railroad caboose currently owned by the Town and we would like to see it incorporated into a public setting as a representation of our town's past as well as for public enjoyment by residents and visitors to the area.
Sign this petition to save the Little Red Caboose!
To sell or not to sell?
OHHS was notified at our Wednesday meeting that the Town of Huntersville is going to sell the caboose, located near the railroad tracks. The Town feels there isn’t room for it at the new Veteran’s Memorial Park and it is considered “surplus” inventory and a liability for the Town.
Huntersville grew out of the railroad and textile industries. Huntersville was a small community that primarily consisted of farms, the mill and the railroad. It’s a part of our heritage. Like it or not, it’s who we were/are because believe it or not, if you look hard enough, you can still find natives living here. We understand the Town is embarking on a monstrous undertaking in the revitalization of old downtown, but why build completely new history instead of trying to incorporate what few treasures we have left into our future?
OHHS met with a railroad historian from the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer and he was very excited to see our little treasure. It is one of 20 left in existence. According to him it is a rare find and an awesome piece of rail history that should be revitalized and shared.
OHHS would like your opinion. Do you think the caboose is worth keeping and refurbishing? We do. Please leave your thoughts below in the comments and also go to this link and sign our petition asking the Town to keep the caboose. The sale of the caboose will be on the agenda of the August 1 Town Board meeting. OHHS will be there with a presentation to the Town and we would love to see as many people there supporting this effort as possible.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in saving this piece of railroad history.
