GALION — Both the past and future were celebrated Saturday in the City of Galion with the opening of the Galion Big Four Depot Pavilion.
The 1,205-square-foot building is located on the depot property, featuring enclosable bay doors and a fireplace.
There to welcome this recent addition to the city was Mayor Tom O’Leary, who was life-flighted to Riverside Methodist Hospital for emergency surgery after suffering an abdominal aortic aneurysm on May 3.
“It’s a real pleasure to be here today, quite literally,” he said in his opening remarks.
“I think those of us who grew up here or have lived here for a long time have seen this as sort of a hinge point in the community — one step looking back into the past of Galion, with the potential of one step looking forward to what Galion can be in the future.
“This structure today really is that hinge around which I think we’re going to build an exciting and very promising future that has begun rolling in that direction. This is a physical tribute to the idea that we can bring back to life one of Galion’s main landmarks.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for the pavilion was held in December. The project was made possible through a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.
Marty Cecil, president of Galion Depot, Inc., noted that the grant funds could not be used for restoration of the depot.
“But now you see this and you know that everything we earn here after we pay our bills goes to that depot,” she said.
“We want to bring it back.”
Mayor O’Leary recognized Wendy Zucal, executive director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, who was able to provide some insight during the planning process of bringing the Galion depot back to life.
“Go to Dennison, Ohio, either go during the Polar Express time, or in the fall foliage trains, and your eyes will be opened and the vision of what we can do in Crawford County here in Galion will be recognized because you’ll see what a little town like Dennison did with a little old depot and how it’s become a national landmark,” he said.
Saturday’s event featured live entertainment by the Galion Area Band, Eagle Dance Center, and local musicians, as well as walking history tours, kids’ activities, and a wet paint sale.
This event was organized by Brush and Palette Art Gallery; Friends of the Big Four Depot; Galion Depot, Inc.; and the City of Galion. It was sponsored by Firelands Federal Credit Union.
