Do You Remember? The Country Store
Long-time friends of Pursuit will remember the bright yellow railroad car that greeted visitors to our West Dallas campus, a quirky landmark visible from Allen Parkway that sparked curiosity and countless questions during campus tours. This beloved piece of Pursuit history arrived in 1972, a gift from our Volunteer Auxiliary, and quickly became more than just a conversation starter.
At the request of our first executive director, Dr. Frank Borreca, the railroad car was transformed into the “Country Store.” Day program participants earned tokens throughout the day and then visited the store and shopped for items they wanted. Four days a week, dedicated volunteers opened the doors to a store stocked entirely through the generosity of community members and local businesses, a beautiful example of Houston's support for Pursuit's mission.
When we moved to our Harrisburg campus in 2022, we couldn't leave this piece of our history behind. The railroad car made the journey east and now sits on the north side of campus near our new vegetable garden. While we are thrilled it is still part of our story, we are exploring creative ways to put it to use in its new home.
How might we reimagine this treasured railcar? We would love to hear from you! Reach out to akress@pursuitcenter.org.
