BNSF donates to Staples Depot Museum Fund

Amy McBeth of the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) Railway Foundation hands a $25,000 check to Wally Thompson of the Staples Historical Society. With this donation, the Historical Society increases their seed fund to start the next phase of the Staples Depot project, the museum. The donation will not be used for the current renovation project. Thompson was instrumental in keeping the project conversation going with his BNSF acquaintences. Other historical society members include from left, Mike Blessing, Tom Kajer, Bernie St. Pierre, Bruce Hayenga and Tom Crawford. McBeth said the BNSF Railway Foundation has heard about the project for a while. “We are pleased to support such a great project. It is a community project, a community gathering place,” she said.