Fernandina Beach Train Depot restoration begins

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm Reporter-News Analyst

The painstaking and arduous work of restoring Fernandina Beach’s historic train depot has moved from the planning stage into actual construction work. According to Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, there is no time frame for completing this restoration project, because all parties want to make sure that the job is done right.  Badly needed brick repointing is awaiting test results to determine the best type of mortar for use with the existing brick. Langley is overseeing the restoration, which is being funded by his organization, the city of Fernandina Beach and the Amelia Island – Fernandina Restoration Foundation.

Once completed, the train depot’s exterior wood surfaces will loose their white paint and return to the original paint scheme – green and gold, as visible in the Railway Express Agency sign on the west façade.  In addition to returning the two doors on the west side originally exiting to the train platform, the plans call for replacing the front door to the depot and adding flanking windows.

The west side of the building has been blocked off to allow craftsmen from the Avondale Window Restoration Company to work on restoring some of the old windows, while also doing preliminary work to return two of the current windows to doors.  In addition to removing many coats of a variety of paints that have been applied over the life of the 114 year-old structure, the workers are dealing with lead paint issues.  Once the windows are free of lead paint, they will be removed and taken to the shop for a thorough going over to repair wood and glass damage that has occurred over the years. 

Project architects Cotner Associates, Inc. have done extensive research to uncover photographs of the train depot in its earlier days in attempting to make the restoration as historically accurate as possible.  Unfortunately, many early photos were housed in an office in Jacksonville that was destroyed by fire.  Any leads to locating old depot photos would help the architects in final design elements.  Langley would also like to incorporate old brick pavers from Centre Street in the depot platform area.  If you have information on old photos or sources for the old brick pavers, please contact Gil Langley at 904-277-4369 or [email protected]

At this point it remains to be seen whether the roofed train platform, which was removed many years ago, will be replaced as part of this project.  The cost, roughly estimated at $100K, was not included as part of the original estimate. However, adding this feature would provide exceptional covered public space with a view of the waterfront for public gatherings and special events.

May 20, 2013 11:21 a.m.