The Depot
The Fort Davis Railroad Depot was built in 1904, approximately 12 years after the construction of the Seaboard Savanna-Americus Railroad in Fort Davis in route to Montgomery, AL in 1892. The current building was actually built to replace the original depot built in 1892, which was destroyed by fire in 1904. The Depot operated from 1904 until 1975, when the Fort Davis Alabama Historical Society (the current owner) was deeded the building by CSX Railroad (the successor of Seaboard Savanna-Americus Railroad). In January 1986, CSX ceased operations on the railroad through Fort Davis, and the tracks were dismantled between 1987 and 1988. In the late 1980s, the Depot was repainted by members of the Fort Davis United Methodist Church.
Over the past 25 years, the Depot has fallen into a state of disrepair. Some of the pillars that the Depot rests on have begun to deteriorate and shift, which puts the structure in danger of falling or collapsing. The Fort Davis Alabama Historical Society (who owns and maintains the property) is a non-profit organization (Tax ID Number 22-07-36-0-001-013.000) made up of voluntary members, and lacks the funding to maintain the building. The building has served as the cornerstone of the community for over 100 years, and is still a very well-known landmark for the South Macon and North Bullock County area. The Depot also serves as one of the last remaining artifacts of the Seaboard Savanna-Americus Railroad.
In May 2017, the Depot was listed on Alabama Historical Comission’s “Places In Peril for 2017” List, and a press release for this listing was published in the Union Springs Herald and Tuskegee News on June 14, 2017, and June 15, 2017, respectively. Also, the Fort Davis Rail Road Depot was recently added to the Alabama Historical Commissions Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
For more information about the Seaboard Railroad closing the line that went through Fort Davis and to learn of a little history of the town, please see this blog post, Town Saw End Was Coming.
Over the past 25 years, the Depot has fallen into a state of disrepair. Some of the pillars that the Depot rests on have begun to deteriorate and shift, which puts the structure in danger of falling or collapsing. The Fort Davis Alabama Historical Society (who owns and maintains the property) is a non-profit organization (Tax ID Number 22-07-36-0-001-013.000) made up of voluntary members, and lacks the funding to maintain the building. The building has served as the cornerstone of the community for over 100 years, and is still a very well-known landmark for the South Macon and North Bullock County area. The Depot also serves as one of the last remaining artifacts of the Seaboard Savanna-Americus Railroad.
In May 2017, the Depot was listed on Alabama Historical Comission’s “Places In Peril for 2017” List, and a press release for this listing was published in the Union Springs Herald and Tuskegee News on June 14, 2017, and June 15, 2017, respectively. Also, the Fort Davis Rail Road Depot was recently added to the Alabama Historical Commissions Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
For more information about the Seaboard Railroad closing the line that went through Fort Davis and to learn of a little history of the town, please see this blog post, Town Saw End Was Coming.
