Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
World War II rail car has home at Danville Museum
A crowd gathered in the small town of Danville on Aug. 19 to watch as a World War II railcar, the same kind that was used to transport Jews to death camps during the Holocaust, was placed in its new home east of the Danville Station.
For over five years, a committee of 10 people from Danville and the Quad Cities has been working to locate and purchase a railcar to add interpretation and educational opportunities to the Anne Frank Museum in Danville. Potential deals to purchase a car in Macedonia and Poland fell through. Claudia and Bernhardt Korenka located an authentic rail car in Moers, Germany last year.
“Cars like this one carry Jews from their homes to the concentration camps with a goal of extermination,” said Claudia Korenke. “People were confined during the transport.”
After receiving a $500,000 Destination Iowa Grant last August, the 1937 European Oppeln boxcar was purchased. It was moved in December 2022 from Moers to Duisberg, Germany. Die Schmiede, the same company that refurbished a rail car that sits in the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland, refurbished the boxcar. Martin Kaufmann, owner of Die Schmiede, was on hand to witness the railcar’s final placement at Danville.
Many hours of labor went into preparing a home for the railcar. A concrete platform with steps and a ramp was installed, and rails put in place for the railcar to rest.
Jay Thomassen, Vice President of ATS Commercial Services International, with offices in Minnesota and Germany, watched as the railcar was prepared to be moved from the trailer to the railroad tracks.
“We’ve moved these in the past, but this is still special to me,” Thomassen remarked.
Tom Free of Texas drove the semi that transported the railcar from Baltimore, Maryland, to Davenport, Iowa, where it made a stop at the Beit Shalom community building. Allan Ross, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, said he’s spent the last 10 years helping provide education about the Holocaust at Danville School.
“We are committed to helping make Danville Station Museum a cornerstone of Holocaust education,” Ross said. “These lessons are so important.”
Tri State Crane and Rigging Service arrived about noon with their 100-ton crane, and spent over an hour setting up.
As the crane gently lifted the 30-foot railcar into the air, there was an expectant hush, then the crowd cheered as the railcar was gently and precisely placed on the tracks.
“Amazing,” “fabulous,” and “awesome” were just some of the words heard coming from the spectators.
“Without our committee and without the Danville community’s help behind the scenes, this would have remained a dream,” said Museum Director Janet Hesler.
“It’s a wonderful day,” remarked Danville Mayor Jerry Strause.
County Supervisor Tom Broeker was also in attendance to witness the railcar’s unloading and placement.
“It’s a great day for Danville and the state of Iowa,” Broeker said. “This will help children find out what totalitarianism really means.”
While the grant money paid for the purchase, restoration, and shipping to Iowa, it did not cover a structure over the rail car to protect it from the harsh Iowa weather, so another fundraising campaign is underway. If you would like to contribute, contact the committee at danville.iowa.library@gmail.com, or call 319-392-4577.
