06/12/2026
We are both excited and humbled to announce that R. Edwards & Co. has been awarded a 2026 Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV) Preservation Award for the rehabilitation of the historic Danville Train Station, received at this year's Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference in St. Albans.
This project would not have been possible without the extraordinary volunteer efforts of the Town of Danville Train Station Committee, formed in 2021 to coordinate the restoration and revitalization of the historic station. At the risk of singling out too many folks and not wanting to forget anyone (the efforts of everyone on the Train Station Committee, chaired by Michael Hogue, are truly too extensive to try and articulate here), we would be remiss to not specially recognize Rob Balivet, a Danville native, retired architect, and member of the Train Station Committee, who fell into the role of Owner's Rep, a critical role on any project team, and one that Rob gracefully embraced and excelled at (voluntarily) – we couldn't have done this project without him.
We of course also have to recognize the amazing team at Engineering Ventures, PC who handled all things civil and structural on this project. It goes without saying that they're one of our favorite "& Company" partners.
And finally, as with most all historic rehabilitation projects, we could not have done this project without funding from so many different partners including, but not limited to: the Town of Danville, The Preservation Trust of Vermont, Green Mountain Power, the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, & Recreation, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) – and dozens and dozens of private donations.
For those of you who made it this far and want to know more about the building and project, we'll leave you with the nomination brief for this wonderful project that we were so honored to be a part of...(thanks for reading).
Built in the summer of 1871 for the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, the Danville Train Station served as a passenger and freight depot for more than a century. The building remained in continuous railroad use under the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad and later the St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County Railroad until the line officially closed in the early 1990s. Today, the rehabilitated station occupies a prominent location along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT), continuing its long tradition as a public-facing transportation resource.
The balloon-framed timber structure is a well-preserved example of a modest rural Stick-style train station. Its principal façade largely reflects the building’s appearance following a renovation around 1907, while the overall form, massing, and spatial organization remain intact. Historically, one end of the building housed the ticket office and passenger waiting area, while the opposite end served as the freight room. The passenger side retains its original floor-to-ceiling shellac-finished beadboard paneling and wood trim, character-defining features that were preserved and restored as part of the recent work. The freight room remained unfinished until 1994, when it was converted into a municipal recycling center with the introduction of a dropped ceiling and painted drywall finishes. These later alterations were removed during the rehabilitation, allowing the historic volume and material character of the space to be reestablished.
Following the end of rail service and years of deferred maintenance, the station underwent a limited but critical intervention in 1994, supported in part by funding from the Preservation Trust of Vermont. That effort focused on structural stabilization and exterior painting, and included removal of the deteriorated original platform. While modest in scope, this work was essential to the building’s survival and helped preserve its historic integrity until a more comprehensive rehabilitation could be undertaken.
In 2013, the State of Vermont began construction of the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail along the former railroad corridor, with the segment connecting St. Johnsbury to Danville completed in 2015. As use of the trail increased and new opportunities for community and economic development emerged, the Town of Danville chartered the Train Station Committee of Danville, Vermont in 2021 to coordinate the restoration and revitalization of the historic station.
In 2022, following a competitive selection process, the committee engaged an architectural and engineering team to undertake a full historic rehabilitation in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The project prioritized retention and repair of historic materials, preservation of the building’s defining form and features, and sensitive integration of new systems and uses. Work included reconstruction of the historic train platform and full-length canopy based on historic documentation, improvements to accessibility, and upgrades to energy performance, including full electrification of the building. Modern interventions such as ADA-compliant restrooms, lighting, and an accessible ramp were designed and installed to be compatible with the historic character while remaining clearly contemporary.
The project team worked closely with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont throughout design and construction. Construction began in the fall of 2023 amid a challenging construction climate marked by labor shortages, material cost fluctuations, and limited trade availability. Despite these conditions, the project was completed successfully, and the station reopened to the public with a well-attended grand opening on September 18, 2025.
Today, the Danville Train Station has once again become a vibrant community asset and a popular stop along the rail trail. The restored passenger waiting room now houses a collection of historic railroad artifacts and memorabilia, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the site’s history. Beginning in 2026, the former freight room will accommodate bike rentals and grab-and-go refreshments, ensuring continued active use while respecting the building’s historic character. The project represents a thoughtful rehabilitation that preserves historic integrity, supports contemporary community needs, and secures the station’s future as a trailside landmark.
