Valley Girl Views: The Peter Herdic Transportation Museum

The Peter Herdic Transportation Museum Opened at 810 Nichols Place (Today the Police Station) on May 6th 2007.

"It cost about 1.5 million to renovate a former Pennsylvania Freight Station into the museum, and construct a gazebo nearby..."

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Video of the Transportation Museum

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MUSEUM CLOSED

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Williamsport was forced to close the museum in the summer of 2021, when it was found that the building had possibly been financed by River Valley Transit, using federal transit dollars.

Following poor air quality test results in July of 2021, the Police Station was moved from City Hall to the former Transportation Museum.

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WHERE DID ALL OF THE ITEMS GO?

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"Most of the items on display were on loan from the Taber museum," said Slaughter. "The City did put some of it up for bid."

The Stearns Bell is at the Taber Museum

The trolley out back was offered to the Jersey Shore Historical Society, who originally planned to accept it, but found that they had more pressing issues for their budget. See more about that here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CZC3jPnSn/

"The Pullman Parlor Car had three bedrooms, drawing room, bar/lounge."

The Pullman Railcar was put up for bids in 2026. Bids were due by January 8th.

And then Lycoming County received an America 250 Grant to restore it.

What's Next?

See more here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ak3XVdPXd/

Other Items in the Museum Included:

1 fully restored 1962 GMC that was part of Williamsport's transportation system between 1962 and 1980.

Birch Bark Canoe

Horse drawn Carriage

Physicians Buggy

Static Display of Model Trains

Slide Show on Trolleys

I believe the cars were all borrowed from a local antique car club, displayed on rotation.

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MISUSE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS

THE MUSEUM PERMENANTLY CLOSED

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Lycoming County real estate records show that the City of Williamsport bought the building at 810 Nichols Place on May 15, 2003 for $390,000. A second transaction, for $1, is shown in 2008.

"In 2021, PennDOT issued a letter to the city, asking River Valley Transit, the city's bus system, to cease what the state considers misuse of taxpayer-funded transportation money.

An audit of River Valley Transit's finances for 2019 showed the bus system was $11 million in debt.

At that time, William Nichols was in charge of both the city's finances and RVT. He was fired last year. Mayor Slaughter says the transit system should never be in debt because it is funded through grants." https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lycoming-county/penndot-orders-williamsport-to-stop-misusing-transportation-funds/

"The FTA began an investigation into the alleged misappropriation in March 2021. On Jan. 8 the agency sent a letter to Slaughter and River Valley Transit General Manager Todd Wright informing them how much was owed and setting a 30-day deadline for repayment."

I skimmed the documents listing the charges against Nichols, hoping there would be some mention of the Pullman train car currently sitting behind the police station - to answer the question of who owns it. I did not find mention of it. Here is where to find the documents:

In February of 2025, the Federal Transit Authority Ordered Williamsport to repay 1.4 Million dollars.

https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2025-02-07/federal-transit-authority-orders-williamsport-to-repay-1-4m-it-says-was-misspent

"On April 11, 2025, the City of Williamsport and the Federal Transit Administration agreed to repayment of $1,483,707 in Federal grant funds that Nichols used on non-transit-related expenses and for lack of appropriate documentation to show how certain expenses were calculated and spent."

The long, detailed, complaint listing the discrepancies and problems can be found on the Attorney General's Website here:

https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-10-NICHOLS-COMPLAINT.pdf