By Christine Yeres
It’s odd that we should keep an edifice so small and tumbledown as the red and white train stationhouse as the icon on our mental desktop for “Millwood,” but many of us do. And that file is connected in our heads to another along which the stationhouse sits: the Millwood bike path.
The stationhouse is tumbledown, but not so small. Sitting alone on its desolate lot, from a distance it seems miniature, a “play” stationhouse. Up close, it feels bigger than the 500 square feet it measures, and it’s as tall as a two-story house.
Despite the fact that the “Millwood Stationhouse” originated in Briarcliff and arrived here – by train, of course—in 1909 when Briarcliff’s town fathers believed they deserved a grander station, it’s “Millwood” now, though nothing’s ever seemed to be cooking on this lot at the southeast corner of Routes 133 and 120.
Owner Leo Rotta has an idea that the stationhouse might be the key to an upturn now for Millwood. “The bike path has done a lot for Millwood. And now we’re ready for an upgrade. The stationhouse could make this town a real ‘destination’ location.” What’s his idea? One that has occurred quite naturally to many foot- and bike-path users too over the years: an eatery.
Rotta has found a couple, Joe and Maria Nigro, owners and operators of the homey B & B Café near Heritage Hills in Somers, who are eager to bring the old stationhouse alive. Who found whom? “We kind of found each other,” says Nigro, a contractor himself. “I’ve had my eye on this place for at least ten years, driving back and forth. And the more I see this building, the more I feel it. We’re so into saving this building and having it really show off the town… I have a real vision for this place.” Could it include nightlife? “We’ll start with lunch – the daytime, bike-path crowd of kids and adults—and dinner, then feel our way forward,” he answers.
Rotta adds, “This stationhouse could be really gorgeous. And we want to keep the historic feel of it. We’ve asked Chuck Napoli, an architect here in town, to look at it with us and make us some preliminary drawings and cost estimates. We really want to go forward with this plan. Restore the stationhouse, add some beautiful landscaping. Down the road, we’ll have to navigate through the various town approvals.” How long does he think that might take? “Not too long, I hope. I’d love to have something by spring. I want to make something that’s really great for the community, but it has to work as a business, too. As it is now, the stationhouse doesn’t generate any income at all – in no way does it cover the taxes I have to pay on the property.”
“Millwood’s a great place,” continues Rotta, on a stroll around this intersection of which he owns a great part, including the property on which Millwood Lumber sits. Rotta came to town-wide attention four years ago when the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners considered taking the lumberyard property “by eminent domain” as a site for a new firehouse. He successfully fought the attempt and the Fire Commissioners have since purchased another property they hope to build on. [See Gene Nadel’s “Millwood and West End Update” for more on the firehouse.]
“Whatever happens with the proposed firehouse – it’s still a big controversy—that old firehouse is a great place for the right thing,” says Rotta. What kind of “right thing”? “Oh, maybe a community center . . . there are a lot of possibilities if we just keep our minds open. Millwood needs more recreational facilities for young people. Something …let’s see!”
Editor’s note: Why would someone move a stationhouse from Briarcliff to Millwood? Answer, next week!
Copyright 2009 NewCastleNOW.org