The Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau is on board with the transfer and future plans for the former Lehigh and New England train station in Lansford.

Chris Barrett, PMVB president, called the station a tourism and historical asset, as it’s one of the few remaining stations of its kind with many original features to tell the story of the railroad and the area’s mining heritage.

“It’s just another really strong historical asset we could help preserve,” he said on Wednesday. “I think there’s an amazing potential there to create a cool, historic product that complements the No. 9 Mine.”

Barrett recalled visiting and touring the station as its ownership changed from a private machine shop to the borough.

He could see the potential then for a satellite visitors center at the station, maybe a restaurant and even get Reading Northern and Blue Mountain Railroad involved, he said.

Barrett credited the vision of local historians, Bruce Markovich and Dale Freudenberger, who spoke to him years ago about how they could capitalize on different historical assets, including Edgemont Lodge.

He pointed to Jim Thorpe, which is a tourist mecca thanks to the vision of a few folks years ago who understood the historical significance of the borough and the unique architecture which remained.

“There were people decades ago that had a vision to preserve Jim Thorpe,” Barrett said, “To keep that asset and preserve it for future generations. Look at what it is now.”

One of the reasons the PMVB would like to develop additional tourism assets in places like Lansford is to find ways to extend visitors’ stays in Carbon County beyond day trips to Jim Thorpe. Other attractions also take some of the pressure off a very busy Jim Thorpe, he said.

State Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Sigler called Jim Thorpe a recipe for success that he wished he could replicate in every rural town in the state, Barrett said.

“And you know, maybe that’s a recipe for success for Lansford, and maybe someone has a vision to recognize that,” Barrett said.

The PMVB recognizes that vision and is willing to invest in Lansford’s future and the train station project, he said.

“We were asked if we would help (with the transfer of the station) and that’s something we would definitely help with because we believe in the long-term vision of building that product,” Barrett said. “So, you’ve got to invest in it, and the money has to come from somewhere.”

He didn’t remember the amount requested, but believed it was between $8,000 and $10,000, he said.

Down the road, the PMVB would consider investing in a satellite visitors center in the train station and would also consider offering grants for projects related to the station, “because that’s building product,” Barrett said.

The PMVB recently partnered with the borough and the Lansford Historical Society to offer trolley rides highlighting both the No. 9 Mine and Lansford’s varied history and heritage.

Markovich, who is vice president of the society and also a Lansford councilman, mentioned the transfer of the train station from the borough to the historical society at a council meeting in January. Council did not have anything in writing at that time.

Other council members recall the proposal being made privately as early as last fall and it involved financial assistance from the PMVB.

Markovich denied any such proposal was made this week after council voted to write to the visitors bureau and historical society for confirmation of an offer.

Councilman Jack Soberick said he raised the issue again last week to move the transfer of the station to the historical society forward and remove the burden of ownership and bills from taxpayers, he said.

“The support offered by the PMVB is exactly what I had wanted to verify,” Soberick said Wednesday. “This is the best option to both move this worthwhile project forward while eliminating any additional cost to the borough taxpayers.”

“I look forward to working with members of council, the PMVB and the historical society to make this happen for everyone’s mutual benefit,” Soberick said.

Markovich could not be reached for comment.