Evanston’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held an open house on Thursday, May 29, at the Roundhouse to inform residents of the progress of their various historic preservation projects. Refreshments were provided by The Bakery.

HPC chair Joan Nixon greeted everyone and introduced the commission members: vice chair Bill Alexander, Tyfani Sager, Debbie Liechty, Micki Cox and Jared Barnes. All were present at the open house except Barnes.

Evanston Mayor Kent Williams addressed the crowd.

“Trains are a passion for some, like those on HPC and, though we have not always agreed, I do appreciate the passion and dedication of those who protect our history and volunteer their time. Tough decisions are made after emotional discussions and debates, but I appreciate you all. Thank you for all you do.”

Evanston Director of Planning and Engineering Damon Newsome provided an update on the Roundhouse Trailhead Courtyard project. He thanked Bill Alexander for his part in designing the layout of the historic sign at the courtyard.

Newsome said the goal of the project is to link the railyards to the Bear River State Park, make the site ADA compliant, revitalize access to the Roundhouse, and attract businesses to the area. He added that the city has now accomplished the objectives in the WYDOT application grant.

Visiting author David Jacinto, who recently spoke at the Uinta County Library about his book “Where Eagles Fly Free,” spoke. Jacinto’s historical novel deals with the building of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s and how the area around Evanston, specifically the Piedmont kilns area, figured prominently into that historical event.

Jacinto’s ancestor, immigrant Thomas Wright, was an engineer who helped with the explosives to clear the tunnels for the train coming from the east to arrive at Promontory Point in time to meet the train coming from the west.

The book covers the event when the president of the Union Pacific railroad, Doc Durrant, was kidnapped and held for ransom at Piedmont because he had not paid his workers. Jacinto said he learned a lot about how Piedmont figured into the drama from Wendy Peterson who lives near the kilns. He told the audience they would have to read his book to get the whole story.

Steam engine 4420 restoration volunteer Steve Ewing also spoke at the open house. He began by naming all of the volunteers who faithfully work on the restoration: Darrell Porter, Gene Bell, John Davis, Steve Ewing, Ken Smith and Alex Rossi. Others who volunteer when they are able to are: Jim Lacy, Shane Wright, Keith Osojnak from Utah, and Idaho high school student Zach Collins. Also involved with the restoration are: machinist Mark Thompson, metal supplier Kay Dunford and technical advisor Gavin Wagstaff.

“This little engine could be a money maker for the city,” Ewing said. “Today, when we were working on the 4420, a family from Taiwan came, took photos and I took them on a tour, shared stories of the railroad history of Evanston, and they were thrilled. Also, the same day, a couple from Czechoslovakia, who have a daughter attending Evanston High School, came by and I showed them the engine.”

Ewing provided a summary of the history of the Evanston Roundhouse and Railyards. When Union Pacific decided to use the Roundhouse as a reclamation center the 4420 steam engine was critical for moving the cars into the Roundhouse for repair and maintenance.

There was also a forge there that made railroad tools and hammers for laying track, a carpenter shop that was used to help build houses for railroad workers, and an upholstery shop that repaired the seats in the trains.

“The 4420 was built in Lima, Ohio, in 1914, and lived in the Evanston railyards full-time except once when it was loaned to Ogden, Utah, to move some passenger cars around,” Ewing said. “The turntable here at the Roundhouse still works and the Roundhouse was restored in 1998, due to the efforts of Jim Davis and Shelly Horne. The 4420 was moved from a local park back to the Roundhouse in 2020.”

Ewing said the 4420 is ready to have the pipes put into the boiler, but it needs to be inspected by a UP engineer first. They plan on converting the engine to be oil-powered for environmental reasons. Ewing said the vision of the volunteers and HPC is to eventually use engine 4420 for a tourist attraction and to give rides on it.

“We need volunteers to develop and maintain websites, and we could use a tractor for help in lifting heavy parts,” Ewing said. “We are also currently working on new agreements with the city so we can keep working on the engine. We want to increase visits to the engine and, of course, increase donations.”

Nixon thanked all of the speakers and everyone for coming and said HPC hopes to hold an open house annually to inform the public about its projects.