As an official locality of the State of Virginia, the Town is here to serve our residents, businesses, and visitors. We are not associated with any political party. We want all persons to share in a welcoming spirit to enjoy all that Boones Mill's heritage and future has to offer.
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 existence on its last day of service in 1960.
The Depot was moved from its original location along the Norfolk Southern railway line in Boones Mill in order to save it from being demolished 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. The Town received a federal transportation grant in 2016 which funded the initial engineering, planning, 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. The painting work was led by a local Eagle Scout to complete 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 gave the Depot Committee an old Norfolk and Western caboose. Volunteers plan to restore the caboose once the Depot renovation in 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, and official signage is now in place at the town limits. There is, therefore, an increased level of public awareness about the project's progress, and feedback has been uniformly positive.
Deck Plan/Construction Progress
The Depot Committee plans to start construction immediately on a new deck to resemble the old loading platform which surrounded the Depot on three (3) sides. The deck plan (shown in the video to the right) has been approved by the County Building Inspections Division.
Support the Depot Project
The Depot Committee continues to seek donations to assist with the cost of constructing the deck as well as additional materials needed for the work. 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!
