The unique plan of the memorial is to enshrine the name and work history of any railroad employee who has five years or more of railroad employment. The individual will have his name, position, road of employment, and dates of service inscribed on a pure copper scroll. The names of a spouse and children as well as military service will also be added if desired.

As each copper scroll (containing approximately 800 names) is filled, it will be placed in a capsule which will be filled with inert gas to prevent corrosion and then sealed. Each capsule will then be placed in a reinforced concrete cylinder which will also be sealed as each one is filled and placed in the base of the memorial. The memorial was designed to have a life expectancy of 1,000 years.

When the memorial is fully operational, it is also planned to have computer screens available to visitors to call up individual names and histories.

The memorial design was suggested by the original five stall roundhouse that stood on the memorial site from before the Civil War along with a depot and freight house. The black granite panels in the arched door opening spaces will include graphic illustrations of famous railroad events at the top with the names of those who lost their lives while on duty in rail service engraved below.

BMWE President Mac A. Fleming, a member of the Board of Directors of the Niles Railroad Historical Association (NRHA) which conceived the memorial project, has already furnished a list of all known BMWE members who have lost their lives in railroad service from 1980 to the present to be enshrined in the memorial. Other members of the Board include the Chiefs of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the United Transportation Union and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers.

In October 1848 the rails of the Michigan Central Railroad ended at the memorial property. They stopped there in order to permit the construction of a bridge over the St. Joseph River and the placing of fill material to bring the track bed to grade level. The bridge was completed over the winter and the first train left Niles westbound on April 23, 1849, marking the opening of the frontier that led to the settlement and growth of the Northern plain states. The planned dedication of the memorial in late May 1998 will also commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the railroad’s arrival in Niles.

Phase II of the memorial project envisions the construction of a building to resemble a typical one-story, brick depot which will house offices, a gift shop, artifact museum and a large screen video theater. Outside will be a large garden area, outdoor chapel and picnic area.

Initial funding for the memorial came largely from the proceeds of the sale of the book, An American Colossus ... A Small Town, A River and A Railroad Yard, by William Taylor, Jr. Taylor is also the Chairman of the non-profit NRHA. Additional funding is obtained through five levels of gift donations:

Sponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25
Gifts in Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50

To have your relative or friend’s name inscribed on the copper scroll to be enshrined in the base of the memorial. Widows/widowers on railroad retirement $25 with special cases reviewed by the Board to waive all costs.

Patron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100 to $250
Benefactor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 to $500
Endowment Grant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corporate and charitable trust gifts of $1,000 or more

All contributors will receive a certificate of gratitude on fine parchment suitable for framing. Gifts in Memoriam will be inscribed with the name of the recipient.

To send donations and/or request additional information, write to the Niles Railroad Historical Association, P. O. Box 35, Niles, Michigan 49120.