ColorFest: PAST revives Railroad Street

Two years ago, the PAST organization of Union County prepared a 2010 walking tour guide and promoted an historical visit to the “library neighborhood” with recollections of 1900s Anna.

Last year, the subject of the 2011 walking tour guide was North Main Street with a 150th anniversary look at Civil War Anna.

In 2012, the spotlight will be on “Railroad Street," with attention devoted to life along the north side of the railroad in the vicinity of the old stations and depots between Main and Green streets in Anna on Saturday, Oct. 13.

The PAST Colorfest committee has done extensive research and story collecting in order to provide an interesting and entertaining historical record of a piece of Anna’s colorful past.

The third annual self-guided tour book will be available for purchase at the Stinson Memorial Library flea market in Anna, at Lou’s Room on West Vienna Street and at the Civil War encampment by the 4-way stop in downtown Anna.

Still in commemoration of Union County’s contributions to the Civil War effort, reference will be made of that event 150 years ago.  

The walking tour guide will include pictures and stories of buildings and businesses along the railroad for the past 150 years.

For the purpose of the 2012 self-guided walking tour guide book, the major focus will be on the "block" between Main and Green streets from Jackson’s “Keith” building to Farm Fresh milk store’s old Kirkpatrick site.  

Today’s West Vienna Street was called Railroad Street in the day when a major part of Anna’s business center was around and near the railroad.

PAST of Union County seeks to Promote Appreciation of Structural Treasures and to tell the stories of life surrounding them.  

Folks are invited to visit the “Railroad Neighborhood” of West Vienna Street in Anna on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Rock Ridge Muzzle Loaders will be encamped next to the railroad until 1 p.m. on Sunday.