Editor:
It is with the deepest regret and disappointment of the news this week of the plans to demolish the Hope Station House and develop the property into something else. If we could only go back in time to where we were negotiating with the AdvantageHOPE team, when the building was to be turned into the Hope tourist centre and museum and used for years to come.
Over the years, the Hope Station House has brought a lot of love and happiness to hundreds of people, not only from Hope but the surrounding areas as well. Over the years of operating the Station House, countless fundraisers were held to assist with the renovations that were required.
We had a membership list well over one hundred and many of the members were musicians that would gather there. The people from Hope and surrounding areas came and enjoyed a night of music and dancing. Anyone who played an instrument was welcome to join in. Many of the members brought food and a lunch was available during the break from the band.
Over the years the Station House had numerous kids from school in Hope for two hours a week to teach them job training skills and the kids just loved it and could not wait to return the following week.
Ron Bennett, who was president, and me vice-president would never have decided to turn the Station House over to the District of Hope through the department of transportation in Victoria had we known what was going to happen.
We also had two 80s pieces of rail track with access to road ties, plates and spikes to have an actual caboose or Pullman car for the property. The building and property would have been the icon of the Fraser Valley.
There certainly will be a lot of extremely disappointed people.
Deryck Forrest
