It was a big night for the supporters of an important piece of Ludlow’s history. During Thursday night’s city council meeting, council members approved a recommendation to designate the Ludlow Railyard Storehouse as a Ludlow Landmark Building.
“The building represents an important chapter of Ludlow’s history,” said Andy Corn, chairman of the Urban Design Review Board and a 25-year Ludlow resident. “It’s a sense of pride that we have that history, even a sense of education about our past.”
Corn brought up the board’s nomination to council members and explained why the Ludlow Railyard Storehouse deserves the recognition.
“Making a building a landmark status building brings attention to it,” Corn said. “This designation also gives us a road to grants and fundraising efforts. With that status, we can show that we have the support from city council and the community.”
The building is historically significant because it is known as the last standing structure in Ludlow, used by the Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Texas Pacific Railways, constructed in the 1870s.
The original Ludlow rail yards were constructed of wood, and in 1887, a fire in the yards wiped out the early buildings.
“Stories give character,” Corn said. “Characters make great towns. People want to live in great towns. They want to have a sense of place where they live.”
The Storehouse served as an office space and storage facility for the railyard to house parts manufactured in the yard to repair railroad engines and cars.
The building became part of Southern Railway and is now owned by Norfolk Southern Railway. In January of 2022, The Ludlow Heritage Museum entered into a long-term lease agreement with Norfolk Southern to restore the building.
Local landmark designation by the city of Ludlow should allow extra protections during the planning phase of the restoration process.
Corn said they plan to start fundraising events in the coming months to support the cause.
Find the timeline of the restoration process here.
To learn more about the ongoing restoration process and fundraising efforts, go to the Ludlow storehouse site.
