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Published Saturday, April 04, 2009 in Local

Expansion planned at historic railroad depot

By Winston Skinner

The Newnan Times-Herald

The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society is planning an expansion of the historic railroad depot that will include a recreation of the passenger depot, an upgrade of the freight depot and space for storage.

The committee planning the project -- Pamela Prange, John Young, Dan Dietz and Laurie Pope -- recently unveiled drawings of the proposal by local architect Ben Showalter. The project is expected to cost some $1.5 million.

Strategically located along the railroad between East Broad and East Washington streets, the new facility is designed to serve as a focal point for area residents and visitors from other parts of Georgia and outside the state's borders.

Funding for the project will come from bequests, grant funds and contributions from the community. "We've got some grants that are pending," Pope said.

A capital campaign is planned for the near future. "We have started getting some contributions," Dietz said. Donations can be sent -- marked "depot project" -- to Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, 30 Temple Ave., Newnan, GA 30263.

The original passenger depot was torn down years ago. The passenger depot planned for the new project is modeled after that structure but is not an exact replica. The passenger depot will include a reception area, some exhibit space, a welcome center and a gift shop.

Furnishings there will be high quality. "It is going to be a showplace," Pope said.

Pope said the society wants to begin work on the project "as soon as we can."

Showalter's plan calls for the passenger depot to be built on the south end of the existing depot. The storage facility would be on the north end, and it would be possible for someone to walk through the entire facility once it is complete.

Current drawings for the project show a simple oblong box with wooden siding -- looking somewhat like an old train car -- for the storage facility. That concept is being re-examined, and the storage area may have a brick facade instead.

Regardless of its exterior, the facility is seen as a key for the society's future. "We don't have the space to store the artifacts," Pope said.

Some local residents have wanted to donate items the society simply did not have space to exhibit at present -- or to store for a future exhibit. "We've had to turn things down," Pope said.

Planners of the depot project want to eliminate that problem.

While the current storage is secure, it is not climate controlled or designed for archival purposes. Some items, particularly those made of paper or fabric, will last longer if stored in a facility designed for preservation.

"The storage facility's going to be state-of-the-art," Dietz said.

Local attorney Robert Hancock gave the freight depot to the society in 1998. Using a state grant arranged by Rep. Lynn Smith, R-Newnan, the society began work on the facility with a view toward it serving as an interpretative site for the history of Coweta County and the Battle of Brown's Mill, a noted local Civil War skirmish.

Late last year, the NCHS board commissioned Showalter to develop a plan to recreate the depot to serve as the society's headquarters. He was asked to draw plans allowing for the site to continue to be an interpretative center for the history of Newnan and Coweta County, to include the storage facility and to serve as a welcome center for visitors to downtown Newnan.

The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society maintains exhibits at the depot and at the Male Academy Museum at College Street and Temple Avenue. The society gives scholarships to local high school seniors each year and gives annual awards for preservation.

The society also offers programs to the community on a variety of topics. Recent programs have shared resources from the Atlanta History Center and the Booth Museum. A program on the Trail of Tears and another on World War II proved particularly popular.

An exhibit related to World War II is planned for Memorial Day.

The Male Academy Museum houses a significant exhibit of Civil War surgical instruments, weaponry and memorabilia. The museum also has exhibits on noteworthy local personalities, local history and products manufactured by local businesses.

Area citizens and visitors seek information on family histories, burial sites and historic homes at the museum. The Male Academy Museum is also a teaching facility for the county's children, as well as a tourist attraction.

Current Newnan-Coweta Historical Society officers are -- Prange, president; Young, vice president; Andy Whitlock, secretary; and Pope, treasurer.

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