Community members rally to protect historic depot in Metamora
March 29, 2023 at 7:08 p.m.
On Friday, March 24, The Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway Association (WCBA) desperately needed volunteers at Gateway Park Campground in Metamora to prepare for the severe flooding impending in Franklin County through Saturday. Community members from all over Franklin County and beyond stepped up to help fill and place 4,000 sandbags around the event center on the property.
Over the past few years, severe rain in the area has caused Duck Creek, which runs adjacent to the park, to exceed its beds. As a result, it has caused significant flooding in the old Brookville train depot the organization preserves and utilizes as an event center. As a result, the WCBA has incurred thousands of dollars in repairs due to the flood damage in the building.
With severe weather looming Friday and Saturday, the organization decided to place sandbags around the building in an attempt to prevent water from entering again and asked the community to help through a plea on Facebook. "If you are available to spend a little time helping us, we would greatly appreciate it," WCBA President Ron Yurcak said early Friday. "Please join us in this community effort.”
As word spread, roughly 25 volunteers ranging from 15 to 77 years of age began showing up with shovels at Gateway Park, ready to work hard and help in any way possible. Volunteers could be seen scooping sand into a sandbag another volunteer held for over nine hours. Additionally, volunteers tied and carried bags while other volunteers placed them. The small but mighty group worked until after 11 p.m. as it rained on and off and temperatures dropped to complete the wall of sandbags around the building.
“Seeing the community come together to try to keep the historic depot safe from the floods was overwhelming," said Yurcak. "People worked in the rain until 11 p.m. for this effort, completely volunteering. The townspeople of Metamora, the Metamora Volunteer Fire Department, and even people who pay to camp with us helped."
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On Friday, March 24, The Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway Association (WCBA) desperately needed volunteers at Gateway Park Campground in Metamora to prepare for the severe flooding impending in Franklin County through Saturday. Community members from all over Franklin County and beyond stepped up to help fill and place 4,000 sandbags around the event center on the property.
Over the past few years, severe rain in the area has caused Duck Creek, which runs adjacent to the park, to exceed its beds. As a result, it has caused significant flooding in the old Brookville train depot the organization preserves and utilizes as an event center. As a result, the WCBA has incurred thousands of dollars in repairs due to the flood damage in the building.
With severe weather looming Friday and Saturday, the organization decided to place sandbags around the building in an attempt to prevent water from entering again and asked the community to help through a plea on Facebook. "If you are available to spend a little time helping us, we would greatly appreciate it," WCBA President Ron Yurcak said early Friday. "Please join us in this community effort.”
As word spread, roughly 25 volunteers ranging from 15 to 77 years of age began showing up with shovels at Gateway Park, ready to work hard and help in any way possible. Volunteers could be seen scooping sand into a sandbag another volunteer held for over nine hours. Additionally, volunteers tied and carried bags while other volunteers placed them. The small but mighty group worked until after 11 p.m. as it rained on and off and temperatures dropped to complete the wall of sandbags around the building.
“Seeing the community come together to try to keep the historic depot safe from the floods was overwhelming," said Yurcak. "People worked in the rain until 11 p.m. for this effort, completely volunteering. The townspeople of Metamora, the Metamora Volunteer Fire Department, and even people who pay to camp with us helped."