HOSCHTON - Hoschton citizens brought their lawn chairs, found the shade, and viewed the dedication and ribbon cutting for the city's 132 year old train depot restoration during a noon ceremony Saturday. They saw what nearly four months work and an estimated $225,000 cost did to restore the building.
Mayor Theresa Kenerly told her audience the depot was dedicated back to the city and its citizens.
"It is awesome," she said. "She looks beautiful and we're so excited. The depot is the heart of Hoschton, it was one of the first things built here, so its the heart."
The Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hoschton Brothers founded the town in 1881 hoping to influence the proposed route of the Gainesville, Jefferson, and Southern Railroad. The depot was built in 1883. Rail service stopped in 1947 and while the tracks that ran along side it are long gone, the depot remained as a reminder of the town's railroad heritage and became a popular community gathering place.
The early March arson that nearly destroyed the historic building remains under investigation with no arrests yet, but the Mayor remains hopeful justice will be done.
"There have been a couple of suspects," Kenerly said. "I've told Brad Smith, our District Attorney, because I want it brought before the Grand Jury on what they already have. He doesn't think they have quite enough evidence but I want the people to decide."
City Councilman Jim Cleveland credited Parker Young disaster repair specialists from Norcross with undoing the damage that arsonists did last March and they had a big job.
"It's a restoration and recreation,"Cleveland said. "Parker Young came in and saw what was there. A lot of it had to be torn out, thrown away, it was all smoked up and burned up, but the materials they used for the reconstruction were as close to what we could get to what was originally there."
Much of the original wood flooring was restored along with a pot bellied stove and the ticket window.
Most of the cost was covered by insurance and donations. Volunteers are working to restore items inside the depot and do the landscaping.
Karen Butler, Depot manager, said she looks forward to seeing community groups come back to the depot and use it for meetings and events.
"Now that we are able to rent it we've got a couple of things for July and August already," Butler said.
Construction supervisor Rodney Dodd with Parker Young said someone from the year 1883 would easily recognize it.
"I think they would," Dodd said. "We made a few minor changes but its pretty much back like the way it was."
Firefighters were able to save much of the building; Dodd said old photographs helped guide Parker Young's restoration efforts.
