Peggy Lee’s granddaughter speaks at celebration in Wimbledon
WIMBLEDON, N.D. — After five years of restoration work, the Midland Continental Railroad Depot Transportation Museum here was revealed to the public Saturday with a grand opening full of entertainment and spectacle.By: Brian Willhide, The Jamestown Sun
- Grand Opening
- "Good Day"
- The Crowd
- Holly Foster Wells
WIMBLEDON, N.D. — After five years of restoration work, the Midland Continental Railroad Depot Transportation Museum here was revealed to the public Saturday with a grand opening full of entertainment and spectacle.
“The depot is truly our treasure here in Wimbledon,” said Roger Picker, Wimbledon mayor. “It’s a dream that started back in 2007, and today is proof of a job well done.”
It proved to be a memorable occasion for two reasons: the Midland Continental Depot is now the only remaining depot of the railroad intended to connect Canada to the Gulf Coast, and the depot was home to Jamestown-born jazz singer, songwriter and actress Peggy Lee from 1934 to 1937.
“This is a very special day,” said Rep. Phil Mueller, D-Valley City. “Peggy Lee was a truly tremendous talent and a national treasure for our country.”
Saturday would have been Lee’s 92nd birthday.
The day’s events began with Lee’s friends and family getting the first tour of the restored depot, of which Lee’s granddaughter Holly Foster Wells thoroughly enjoyed.
“I was overwhelmed when I walked in this morning,” said Wells, who is also the vice president of Peggy Lee Associates, LLC. “It’s all so beautiful.”
During a ceremony to commemorate the history of the depot and honor Lee, local Peggy Lee consultant Kate Stevenson sang a few of the jazz star’s greatest hits along with jazz artist Stacy Sullivan and New York-based pianist/composer Jon Weber.
It was fitting that as Stevenson was wrapping up her rendition of “Waitin’ For The Train To Come In,” a Canadian Pacific Railroad train came through the tracks in Wimbledon.
“Before she came along, nobody sang like Peggy Lee. And now they try to emulate her,” said Wes Anderson, member of the Midland Continental Depot Restoration Committee and director/curator of the Barnes County Historical Society.
Lee’s only daughter and Wells’ mother, Nicki Lee Foster, was not present at the ceremony due to health reasons, but Wells said she and other family members had been eagerly awaiting this grand opening.
“We’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,” Wells said. “To say that my grandmother would have been touched by all of this would be an understatement.”
The restored depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and last week was given the 2012 Preservation Excellence Award from Preservation North Dakota — something local officials and restoration committee members were very proud of.
“This will be a cornerstone to tourism here in Wimbledon,” said Cindy Scwehr, Barnes County commissioner. “I am in awe of the job that this community has done and I encourage Wimbledon to keep growing.”
The restored depot includes several exhibits on its two-floor layout. On the main floor, visitors can look at the inner working of the original railroad depot with its waiting room, ladies waiting room, ticket office and freight room.
The second floor depicts the depot agent’s living quarters with an additional room entirely dedicated to the history of Lee’s life and career.
“She considered this place her home and even though she lived a different kind of life in California, she was always so proud of both Wimbledon and the depot,” Wells said.
The Midland Continental Railroad Depot Transportation Museum Featuring Peggy Lee is open 1 to 4 p.m. daily from now until Labor Day. For more information, visit www.midlandcontinentaldepot.com. Admission is free.
Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwill hide@jamestownsun.comBy Brian Willhide
The Jamestown Sun
WIMBLEDON, N.D. — After five years of restoration work, the Midland Continental Railroad Depot Transportation Museum here was revealed to the public Saturday with a grand opening full of entertainment and spectacle.
“The depot is truly our treasure here in Wimbledon,” said Roger Picker, Wimbledon mayor. “It’s a dream that started back in 2007, and today is proof of a job well done.”
It proved to be a memorable occasion for two reasons: the Midland Continental Depot is now the only remaining depot of the railroad intended to connect Canada to the Gulf Coast, and the depot was home to Jamestown-born jazz singer, songwriter and actress Peggy Lee from 1934 to 1937.
“This is a very special day,” said Rep. Phil Mueller, D-Valley City. “Peggy Lee was a truly tremendous talent and a national treasure for our country.”
Saturday would have been Lee’s 92nd birthday.
The day’s events began with Lee’s friends and family getting the first tour of the restored depot, of which Lee’s granddaughter Holly Foster Wells thoroughly enjoyed.
“I was overwhelmed when I walked in this morning,” said Wells, who is also the vice president of Peggy Lee Associates, LLC. “It’s all so beautiful.”
During a ceremony to commemorate the history of the depot and honor Lee, local Peggy Lee consultant Kate Stevenson sang a few of the jazz star’s greatest hits along with jazz artist Stacy Sullivan and New York-based pianist/composer Jon Weber.
It was fitting that as Stevenson was wrapping up her rendition of “Waitin’ For The Train To Come In,” a California Pacific Railroad train came through the tracks in Wimbledon.
“Before she came along, nobody sang like Peggy Lee. And now they try to emulate her,” said Wes Anderson, member of the Midland Continental Depot Restoration Committee and director/curator of the Barnes County Historical Society.
Lee’s only daughter and Wells’ mother, Nicki Lee Foster, was not present at the ceremony due to health reasons, but Wells said she and other family members had been eagerly awaiting this grand opening.
“We’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,” Wells said. “To say that my grandmother would have been touched by all of this would be an understatement.”
The restored depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and last week was given the 2012 Preservation Excellence Award from Preservation North Dakota — something local officials and restoration committee members were very proud of.
“This will be a cornerstone to tourism here in Wimbledon,” said Cindy Scwehr, Barnes County commissioner. “I am in awe of the job that this community has done and I encourage Wimbledon to keep growing.”
The restored depot includes several exhibits on its two-floor layout. On the main floor, visitors can look at the inner working of the original railroad depot with its waiting room, ladies waiting room, ticket office and freight room.
The second floor depicts the depot agent’s living quarters with an additional room entirely dedicated to the history of Lee’s life and career.
“She considered this place her home and even though she lived a different kind of life in California, she was always so proud of both Wimbledon and the depot,” Wells said.
The Midland Continental Railroad Depot Transportation Museum Featuring Peggy Lee is open 1 to 4 p.m. daily from now until Labor Day. For more information, visit www.midlandcontinentaldepot.com. Admission is free.
Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwill hide@jamestownsun.com
Tags: peggy lee, local news, wimbledon, museum, news, local, depot
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