Now that the historic Dayton Stagecoach Inn has been restored and reopened, the Dallas County Conservation department is now working on a new project.

Museum Curator Pete Malmberg says the Dawson Depot is the last premiere historic preservation projects in the county.

“The east half is done, which was the old waiting room and office area.  That has the restrooms, it has some historical displays in there, that type of thing, a description of what the depot was and what Dawson was in its heyday.  People can’t believe the stuff it had at one time.  And then that leaves us with the baggage room, the freight room and that would have been a very, very active, busy place from the 1880s up until the 1950s and I need to portray that in there.  However, that takes the right artifacts and it takes the right siding inside.”

Malmberg says he’s still looking for some more corn crib siding and historic artifacts to help fill the space.  Anyone who has old, pre 1960s luggage, old crates or Perry memorabilia they’d allow the department to borrow take off your hands can contact Malmberg at 465-3577.