LINDEN -— The Linden Depot Museum will hold its first-ever Midwest Railroad Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
In addition to the exhibition of its historical train collections, the event will feature food trucks and music. Admission is $6 for adults and $1 for children of 12 and younger.
The Linden Depot at 520 N. Main St. in Linden was built in 1909 to serve the Nickel Plate Railroad, from Toledo, Ohio to St. Louis, Missouri, and the Monon Railroad, from Chicago, Illinois to Louisville, Kentucky. The depot closed in 1973 and reopened as a museum in 1993.
Gary Vierk, museum president, hopes the fair will become an annual event.
“This is kind of something that I resurrected for our museum and in a much smaller manner than what used to be held elsewhere, but it is a start,” Vierk said.
In the past, Vierk conducted various events such as “Depot under the Stars,” opening the museum at night or inviting a circus group.
“My goal at that museum is to make it the number one railroad museum in the state. And we are working very hard to make that happen,” Vierk said.
Vierk was raised in Lafayette. His grandfather and uncle worked as engineers on the Monon for about half a century.
“I guess, railroads are in my blood,” Vierk said.
Because of his great passion for railroads, he was scouted to become the third president of the museum about 13 years ago.
“There are four things about the museum; I want to preserve railroad history, promote it, make a profit and protect it,” Vierk said.
Vierk stressed there will be two features at this year’s fair. The first is that Amtrak will have a booth at the venue. The other one is a presentation from Carnegie Museum intern and Wabash College student Owen Bennett on his railroad research project.
Bennett has spent this summer researching Montgomery County’s railroad history. He will explain how the railroad has influenced the county’s rise and fall economically and politically from the origin of the railroad system to the present.
Although it will be Bennett’s first public presentation, he is well-prepared to share his research with people.
“I cannot wait to teach people about it and answer any questions that they may have,” he said.
Bennett’s railroad projects will be exhibited at the Carnegie Museum after Saturday’s fair.
“I think he is a rising star in the history business and the museum business,” Vierk said.
For more information about the event or the museum, contact Vierk at by calling 765-427-3630 or emailing LindenDepotMuseum@gmail.com.
