Boones Mill N&W Railway Depot
"I think I can.....I think I can.....I think I can....."
The Little Engine That Could
The Boones Mill N&W Railway Depot serves as a living museum telling the history of the railroad in Boones Mill, Virginia. The Depot will be used in the future as a museum, a community meeting place, a centerpiece for various town and regional festivals, and a music venue. The Depot is currently being restored to match its appearance on its last day of service in 1960.
The Depot was relocated from its original location along the Norfolk Southern railway line in Boones Mill to save it from demolition by the railroad. A video of the move is available to the right.
A Depot Committee was formed and started raising funds to renovate the structure in its new location near the Town Hall in 2014. The Town received a federal transportation grant in 2016, which funded the initial engineering, planning, and construction of the stormwater management improvements and stabilization of the entire structure. This work is now complete.
The Depot Committee has made great strides on the project, outpacing the Town's formal project plan. Volunteers have repainted the Depot, protecting it and enhancing its curb appeal. A local Eagle Scout led the painting work as part of his capstone service project. A local contractor donated labor for key stabilization tasks in carpentry and masonry. At the same time, volunteers were busy locating and collecting display items. The estate of a former N&W station master donated the original safe and desk from the Boones Mill Depot, and volunteers moved these items to the building. The Franklin County Historical Society donated an old Norfolk and Western caboose to the Depot Committee. Volunteers plan to restore the caboose once the Depot renovation is complete.
Time-lapse video of the Historic Railway Depot move on July 24, 2014,
courtesy of Mike Smith.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources awarded the Depot a spot on the State Historic Register. The building is also on the National Register.
Local media coverage has highlighted the progress with newspaper and television stories. Franklin County and Boones Mill are part of the State's Rail Heritage Region. An increased level of public awareness about the project's progress, and feedback has been uniformly positive.
Deck Plan/Construction Progress
The Depot Committee continues to work on the construction of a new deck to resemble the old loading platform, which surrounded the Depot on three (3) sides. The County Building Inspections Division has approved the deck plan (shown in the video to the right).
Support the Depot Project
The Depot Committee is always seeking donations to help cover the cost of constructing the deck, as well as additional materials needed for the project. Financial donations may be made to the Boones Mill Depot Committee Restoration Fund. For additional information, please contact Mike Smith, Chair of the Depot Committee, at depot@townofboonesmill.org. Thanks for your help in restoring an essential piece of the Town's history!
Thank you for your support!
