By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Castor Advance
A Town of Castor landmark has fallen victim to vandalism.
Vandalism of the caboose, part of the Castor & District Museum’s rail car display, was discovered on Aug. 18, 2021, by a Town of Castor employee, who immediately reported the damage to the museum.
Most of the windows in the caboose had been smashed out with big rocks, which were left at the scene, and damage is estimated to be in the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
“There’s probably about a dozen big windows on that caboose, and I think there are only two left,” said Castor Museum member John Wright.
“It’s in the hundreds of dollars if volunteers take the windows out to restore them. If we get someone to do it, it could be in the thousands. It could be $2000, easily. For us, it’s a big expense.”
In addition to the broken windows, the doors on the caboose were damaged as well, which will also need to be repaired.
With the end of summer rapidly approaching, attention is being turned to securing the structure before the snow flies. One option for repairs being considered is plexiglass.
“In the past we have used plexiglass,” said Wright.
“It’s a bit more resistant to rocks, though the rocks these threw (through the windows) are the size of a football. The rocks are littered all over the place inside.”
Because caboose parts are not exactly prolific anymore, according to Wright the damaged window frames will have each have to be removed, repaired, re-glassed, then replaced.
“The actual frame and the window will have to come off the caboose,” said Wright.
The Coronation RCMP Detachment has been notified of the vandalism, and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact them. Security camera footage is also being supplied to the police.