Grand Reopening of Bristol Train Station Set For July 4th

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**Grand Reopening of Bristol** **Train** **Station Set For July 4th**  

 

            Celebrate Bristol and the Bristol Train station Foundation 
are announcing that the newly restored Bristol Union Railway Station 
will have its** Grand Reopening** on** Saturday July 4** in conjunction 
with Bristol's annual Star-Spangled Saturday celebration. According to 
Brad McCroskey, event manager of the facility, "the timing of this event 
is significant to the history of the train station as it was dedicated 
on July 4, 107 years to the day."This event will complete a ten-year $5 
million dollar renovation under the direction of the nonprofit Bristol 
Train station Foundation.The foundation and both city governments 
jointly purchased the former Railway Station in 1999 following its use 
as a shopping mall and years of disrepair.

 

The station was constructed in 1902 by John P. Pettyjohn and Company of 
Lynchburg, Virginia and the finished brick work was laid by Bristol 
resident John J. Fowler, who worked on Bristol's finest commercial 
buildings and residences.Today it is one of only a few rail stations of 
its era and prominence remaining built by Norfolk&Western Railway."This 
station also not only represents the 150-plus year history of rail 
service in Bristol", according to Celebrate Bristol Chairman Tim 
Buchanan, "but the very reason the community exists."In 1980 it was 
placed on the National Register of Historic Places for the building's 
architectural and transportation significance.The renovated facility was 
completed in the fall of 2008 with modern amenities for meetings and 
special events, space for business tenants and potential Amtrak railservice.

 

The dedication and grand reopening will begin at 2:00pm following the 
Star-Spangled Saturday Parade and events at Cumberland Square Park in 
downtown Bristol.Bristol Train Station plans for July 4 include an O. 
Winston Link photographic exhibit, a railroad art exhibit by the Art of 
the Highlands and artwork by the children of Bristol.Music will be 
provided by Bristol's Own Dixieland Band and Theatre Bristol will 
present historical portrayals of notable Bristol citizens.Dignitaries 
from both states, railroad executives, contributors and others 
instrumental in the station's renovation have been invited to attend the 
events of theday.

 

There will be numerous events indowntown Bristol on July 4 so it is 
recommended that the public come early andmake it a day for the entire 
family.For the trainstation event, Martin Luther King Jr Blvd will be 
closed at1:30pm and overflow parking will be available at First Baptist 
Church.Other activities of the day will includea 10:00am parade, live 
music and food at Cumberland Square Park and a largeAntique Automobile 
Club of America (AACA) sanctioned car show across from theTrain Station. 
Other events will beannounced at a later date. For more information on 
the GrandReopening events at the Bristol Union Railway Station contact 
Brad McCroskey,events manager, at 276-494-7485.
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