[RITSlist] Des Moines area

[GRIMM, TIM]

I thought I would send this information out and see what kind of info or ideas I received back;

1. Just this last week, for those familar with the West Des Moines area, the old Rock Island Car Shop that is still standing at approx Railroad Ave & 8th Street has been experiancing alot of work happening around it lately. Last fall I observed Rhiner Bros. Plumbing having the brick re-tucked and the building is looking pretty good. But just last Friday I noticed the Rhiner Bros. sign that was on the west end of the building has been removed and in the very high roof peak the letters were painted over. I've also observed Correll Contractors doing alot of earth work around the building, and close to it. So I've been wondering if this building is going to experiance any "ill fate" here in the near future?   ..........If anybody knows?

2. I went down town Des Moines on Sunday since it was a sunny and beautiful day to take a look at the restored railroad bridge the Principal Insurance paid for. Now if I remember and understand correct...I'm thinking that bridge was the old Des Moines Union (DMU) bridge? (Sits just west of the RI bridge over the Des Moines River). Am I thinking correct?

And secondly, about a 1/2 mile east of that bridge on the west side of the track looks to be an old depot? Now I was wondering if that would have been DMU's depot or just what the story is with that building? It looks to be a neat old building, but alot of the mortar is gone between the bricks and it looks as if you pulled one brick out the whole thing would come crashing down. Also a bunch of trees have grown around the building. I was just wondering if anybody knew anything about that building and what time period of use it seen?

I don't know the fate of that building either, there were Caterpillar tracks around the building, looks to have done some minor clearing and there were fresh underground utility markings with flags around the building. Since a bunch of work has been going on in downtown Des Moines over the past 5-10 years, alot of old buildings have a doubtful fate ahead of them.

Since the building of the Des Moines Science Center I've worried about the fate of the Des Moines RI depot. Especially since the clay tile shingles were removed about 8-10 years ago which then removed it from the National Historical Building List and being in the "historical" status.  Just my observations and seeing what other thought......



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