What a great day Sunday was for the residents Westminster, the city that refused to accept the loss of one of its most treasured landmarks to arson. On Oct. 11, 2009, Westminster got its train depot back.

Sunday’s dedication of the new historic Westminster Train Depot brought back fond memories for many in the large crowd. Passenger train service in Westminster dates to 1911, with a cargo depot tacked on seven years later that provided an additional source of commerce.

Passenger travel and shipping freight by rail faded in popularity during the middle years of the 20th century. But the depot, sitting aside the downtown business district and displaying classic lines of architecture, remained a landmark in Westminster. It was purchased by the city in 1975 and made its way onto the National Register of Historic Places one year later.

January 17, 2006, was the tragic day on which the depot was deliberately burned. Fortunately, the landmark was not fully destroyed, as some original flooring, woodwork and other materials were used by Trehel Corporation in the rebuilding project. The rebuilt depot is an excellent replication of the original.

After the fire, Westminster residents never accepted the event as an ending for their depot. Rather, the town looked at it as a new beginning.

With dedication, teamwork, creativity and the help of people from all walks of life, the Westminster Depot rose from its own ashes. It may never be the transportation hub for city folk and farmers from around the area as it once was, but it will function as a center for social events, community gatherings and festivals in its regenerated form.

The Journal congratulates the people of Westminster for their spirit and success in not only refusing to lose a treasured part of their history, but to renew it in a form that will guarantee its life and significance to a new generation of residents. Promoting community pride and a sense of holding onto what is important are two of Westminster’s most prominent traits. In the effort to rebuild the historic Westminster Train Depot, those attributes served the city well.