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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><b><font
color="black" face="Trebuchet MS" size="5"><span
style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; color: black;"
lang="EN">Grand Reopening of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bristol</st1:place></st1:city></span></font></b></strong><font
color="blue" face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; color: blue;"
lang="EN"> </span></font><strong><b><font color="black"
face="Trebuchet MS" size="5"><span
style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; color: black;"
lang="EN">Train</span></font></b></strong><font color="blue"
face="Trebuchet MS" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; color: blue;"
lang="EN"> </span></font><strong><b><font color="black"
face="Trebuchet MS" size="5"><span
style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; color: black;"
lang="EN">Station Set For July 4th</span></font></b></strong><font
color="blue" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: blue;" lang="EN">
</span></font><font color="black" face="Arial" size="5"><span
style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><font
color="#666666" face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"
lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p><br>
</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN">
</span></font><font color="black" face="Arial" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN"><o:p></o:p>Celebrate
Bristol and the Bristol Train station Foundation are announcing that
the newly
restored Bristol Union Railway Station will have its<strong><b><font
face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Grand Reopening</span></font></b></strong>
on<strong><b><font face="Arial"><span style="font-family: Arial;">
Saturday July 4</span></font></b></strong> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN">The
station was constructed in 1902 by John P. Pettyjohn and Company of <st1:city
w:st="on">Lynchburg</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state>
and
the finished brick work was laid by <st1:city w:st="on">Bristol</st1:city>
resident John J. Fowler, who worked on <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Bristol</st1:place></st1:city>'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 <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bristol</st1:place></st1:city>",
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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN">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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><font color="black"
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<font color="black" face="Arial" size="3"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;" lang="EN">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.</span></font>
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