Enhancements Planned for Johnson City Pagoda

The EJ Workers Pagoda sits in a corner of a Johnson City village park. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

Johnson City officials are working to find funding for renovation work and other enhancements for the century-old pagoda at CFJ Park.

State money was used to pay for moving the pagoda to its current site. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

Mayor Greg Deemie said some village residents have been asking him about what can be done to fix up the historic structure that sits in a corner of the park.

The pagoda was constructed by Endicott Johnson workers more than a century ago. It was built as part of a pump house project.

Deemie said the pagoda will need "some major work" because of its age. He said its roof is deteriorating and all of the structure's windows have been broken. The front of the pagoda is sealed with plywood instead of doors. There are no signs that provide information about its link to the early days of Johnson City.

The mayor said the planned improvements could cost between $60,000 and $100,000. He said the goal is to turn the pagoda into an information kiosk that could serve as a sort of museum. The structure might be used to house replicas of Endicott Johnson-related items.

Deemie said the village has been working with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo's office in an effort to secure state funding for the project.

In recent months, empty food wrappers and beverage containers have started filling the pagoda because the structure's windows are missing.

Empty food and beverage containers, along with other debris, litter the interior of the pagoda. [Bob Joseph/WNBF News][/caption]

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