The Deshler Caboose

[MDH]

So after all the big drama over "we're gonna sell it" followed by the town rejecting the winning bid in favor of having it "rescued", moved and restored locally - when is anything actually going to happen? I was just through there recently and it still sits forlornly rotting away where it long has been. It's been more than half a year now since all the uproar but is it back to "same old, same old" of neglecting the caboose or are they actually going to do something with it?

Michael

[TrainWatcher]

When did Deshler have/get a caboose and where is it?

[MSchwiebert]

The one they have now, they got in 1987 or so. It's located in the town park on the east side of town where the pool & tennis courts are. They also have the stuffed and mounted Air Force fighter (its a F84 or F86) there too. This caboose is the third one that was given to the community. The first was a B&O wood caboose, for years it was parked on a disconnected spur up on the north end of town by the town water works. Time took its toll and it was deemed too far gone to do anything with. Around 1986 or so, CSX donated a Chessie painted B&O style wagon top bay window caboose, but before the display site could be made ready (the caboose was parked on one of the Toledo sub yard tracks) some kids (having gone to the same school - i wouldn't have put it past the rumored participants) set a fire on the inside and ruined it. The current caboose arrived in Deshler, with B&O paint on one side and a CSX scheme (first gen - just blue and gray) on the other. The CSX side was quickly repainted to the proper B&O livery.

When did Deshler have/get a caboose and where is it?

[MDH]

Wow, I didn't know they had such a long history of "good stewardship" of donated cabooses!

[midland sub]

Restoring a caboose is not for the faint of heart or the weary. We are on year two of a project to restore a wooden B&O Caboose in Wash CH. Lucky for us the city was kind enough to help with the project with funding and more importantly trusting us to tackle the project. We're just a little over halfway done with it, but wow did it ever take some serious work to get this far. A steel caboose has to be easier...... Next up for us is tackling the caboose's roommate..... C&O K4 #2776.

[MSchwiebert]

The wood caboose was gone before I was out of grade school - not sure what the full story behind it was, the wagon top was teenaged vandalism (the railroad should have never parked it in a secluded spot like that - it was too inviting of a target) as for the current one, I believe the Lions Club was originally involved in getting it and placing it where it is. I'm relatively neutral on what should be done with it. If it came down to the town getting the depot or the tower - I'd let the caboose go, but i don't live there and it is the town's decision to make.

Wow, I didn't know they had such a long history of "good stewardship" of donated cabooses!

[JoJames]

The town is to busy with downtown revitalazation project on main street of new curbs and landscaping for all the boarded up buildings.

[Y@]

Hopefully they get the bar going again soon...

[StupidFlee​t]

Hopefully they get the bar going again soon...

Last I heard the Bar was done.

[JoJames]

Bar had its last call the night before fire.

[MagnumForce]

Can't imagine a Bar is not a money making proposition.

[Beal99]

The Deshler bar is gone?!?! nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[cbehr91]

The Deshler bar is gone?!?! nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yes, it had a fire last year. The building is nothing but a shell. Word is The Corn City Bar is to never reopen. The local pizza shop in the red building next to the 10K convenience store has a small bar. When I was inside to pick up a pizza there was nobody eating at any of the booths (granted there aren't that many) and probably 7 or so at the bar. And when I said I was there to pick up a pizza both the bar patrons and the employees seemed surprised.

[railohio]

Word is the bar will be torn down this summer.

[caboose9]

I list the Deshler caboose as steel, bay window, B&O C3784 to B&O 903784, Class C-26, City Park, N. Oak St.

Roger

[cr6903]

I am hoping before the Corn City bar is demolished someone makes an effort to preserve the sign out front. I'm not from Deshler, but I would think it would be a part of the town and its history. I think it's a neat old sign. Would be a shame not to keep it.

[telus6429]

anyone know how much damage was done to the bar from the fire... Is it salvageable or not...

[JoJames]

Not salvageable.

[MagnumForce]

That's awful.

Meanwhile Leipsic continues to attract business while Henry County dies.

Odd they are installing new sidewalks in front of the bar when they will most likely be damaged during the demolition.

[MSchwiebert]

If the county seat wasn't in Napoleon - things may be a bit different for the southern end of the county. Rumor has it though that something is going in the old Sherwin Williams plant in Deshler - related to activites in North Baltimore - time will tell though. Wonder who holds the liquor license for the Corn City - One would think (if they're interested) they could re-open elsewhere in town, if they can find a location that's worth sticking money into.

That's awful.

Meanwhile Leipsic continues to attract business while Henry County dies.

Odd they are installing new sidewalks in front of the bar when they will most likely be damaged during the demolition.