Eagle Scout Project helps clean up Terminal
Christopher Gurnett has always enjoyed volunteering at the Buffalo Central Terminal, and he’s been doing it for 3 years. But for Christopher that wasn’t enough. He wanted to do more to help a building that he believes, played a big role in Buffalo’s past.
So he approached the terminal’s board of directors and asked if he could do his eagle scout project there. The board thought it was a great idea, so he started asking for help from his boy scout troop in North Tonawanda.
On his first clean up last December, 37 volunteers showed up, removing 230 bags of old railroad papers from offices on the 4th floor. It was extremely hard work. Each bag had to be hand carried down 4 flights of stairs because the elevators have not worked in years.
It was only half the battle. The scouts realized they only made a small dent with the removal of old railroad papers.
Christopher decided to return to finish the job even though he had enough hours for his eagle scout badge.
This pass weekend Christopher, his parents, and another 34 volunteers went back to work on the 4th floor. This time they removed another 200 bags of papers.
With his efforts, Christopher hopes that the newly cleaned 4th floor can give developers a better idea on what is possible at Buffalo’s Central Terminal.
March 4th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Thanks for sharing my Eagle Project with everyone. I’m glad I was able to do my Eagle Project at this amazing building.
Chris
March 4th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Christopher, Ozzy, and everyone else who helped out with this project- you guys are the greatest! Can’t wait to get up there to see it in person, and to help out in other areas of the building that need it!
March 4th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Thanks Paul, the floor looks a lot better right now.
Chris
March 5th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Ozzy, sorry I missed you on Saturday. We couldn’t get back up the stairs because everyone was dragging hundreds of filled garbage bags down. I talked to some of your troop members though.
Thank you and all your Eagle scout members for doing such a great job! You’re becoming a media celebrity. Maybe I’ll make you our official spokesman!
March 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
[...] [read full story on BCT site] [...]
March 6th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Chris, awesome job. I am for sure going to check it out on Saturday. It was nice to see all the cars last week when I pulled up. Thanks for the help. Hopefully we can use that floor for the May TAPS event thanks to your efforts!
March 6th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Thanks Ryan, I’m going to be attending the TAPS event on the second day. It would be very surprising if something was caught on the fourth floor.
Chris
March 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
This is just wonderful. Is there a possibility that we could entice more boyscout and girlscout troops to take on a floor. By the way, is the 4th floor done? How many floors are cleared now and how many remain?
Oh and with all the talk about high speed rail…Im rather shocked that there is not a single word that would put those high speed trains back into the Central Terminal. Trains back at the Central Terminal would make a strong case for light rail to Transit, Airport, Galleria, Central Terminal Lark District and downtown. Thats enough density to make it viable.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Tom,
We now have 4 Eagle Scouts that have earned their rank via the Central Terminal Restoration
Project. I have been in Scouting for years and know sometimes projects are not easy to
come by or Council will not approve. The voluteers at the Terminal are a perfect example of how
young people can come together to help a cummunity. If anyone wants to do any type of cummunity service hours please contact our website.
Central Terminal and High Speed Rail……..stay tuned …..your observations are correct.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Congrats, Chris. I’m that me, Will, and the CTRC gave this will earned opportunity to both volunteer at the terminal and having you be the forth person to acheive the Rank of Eagle Scout.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Congrats, Chris. I’m GLAD that me, Will, and the rest of the CTRC members and board members have given you this rightfully earned opportunity to both volunteer at the terminal and having you be the forth person to acheive the Rank of Eagle Scout.
March 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Thanks MJ, it was an honar to do my Eagle Project at the Buffalo Central Terminal. I hope that more people will do eagle projects here.