Friends of the Fort Mitchell and Keysville Depots, Inc

Phone 434-390-2632 ▪ P.O. Box 4, Keysville, VA 23947 ▪ www.fortmitchellandkeysvilledepots.org

Update: August 2006

Who are the Friends?

The Friends of the Fort Mitchell and Keysville Depots are local residents who want to rehabilitate two small, turn of the century railroad depots and establish a bicycling trail on low traffic back roads from Keysville to Chase City through the village of Fort Mitchell.

Within the town of Keysville, the Friends hope that 2.5 miles of the former rail line just south of the Depot can become a trail for walking and bicycling. Later, this trail would be extended, as an “on road” bicycling trail, to the former Depot at Staunton River Battlefield State Park. The Friends hope that both “on road” trails can become part of the new Tobacco Heritage Trail.

Why save the Depots? Why create the trails?

At both Fort Mitchell and Keysville, the historic Depot can become a place for meetings and festive events, a museum for railroad memorabilia, and a welcome center for visitors.

Saving the historic Depots will reflect pride in our region’s railroad history.

Establishing the trails will provide local residents – and visitors too -- with opportunities to exercise and enjoy the scenery. Together, the restored Depots and the trails will send the message that our area is a great place to live, work, and visit.

How did the Friends become owners of the Depots?

Norfolk Southern offered to donate the historic Depots to organizations or individuals who wanted to preserve them. Citizens in the Fort Mitchell area formed a corporation and, in 2003, became the owner of the Fort Mitchell Depot.

Starting in 2004, Keysville area residents formed Friends of the Keysville Depot and began to work with Norfolk Southern to plan transferring ownership of the historic structure.

In 2006, the two groups combined efforts and became Friends of the Fort Mitchell and Keysville Depots, Inc. This organization now owns both Depot buildings and will oversee their rehabilitation.

What are the next steps?

The Friends have retained Hill Studio, an award winning architectural firm with extensive historic preservation experience, to prepare plans for the rehabilitation of both Depots.

As the first step, the Friends will stabilize the Keysville Depot to prevent further deterioration while plans for the full rehabilitation get underway. Fortunately, the Ft. Mitchell Depot is in better condition and requires less stabilization work.

Inviting ideas and suggestions from the community

In early fall 2006, the Friends will sponsor a community meeting in front of the Old Charlotte Hotel, across from the Keysville Depot. Local residents will have an opportunity to share their memories of both Depots and offer comments and feedback on preliminary plans and drawings prepared by Hill Studio.

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How will the Friends pay for the rehabilitation of the two Depots?

Potential sources of funds include grants for community revitalization, historic preservation tax credits, contributions from foundations, corporations, and businesses, and donations and gifts from individuals.

As the first step in applying for historic preservation tax credits, Hill Studio will prepare plans to submit to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The Friends must comply with various requirements that allow not for profit organizations to use the tax credits.

One requirement is to preserve as much of the original structure as possible. For building elements that are missing or beyond repair, the Department of Historic Resources will require replacement with materials that are similar to the original.

In 2004, the Friends recognized the precarious condition of the Keysville Depot and asked Hill Studio to assemble an architect, structural engineer, and restoration contractor to inspect and document the historic structure. Photographs and measurements from this report will be included with the rehabilitation plans submitted to the Department of Historic Resources.

Are donations tax deductible?

On August 19, 2006, the Friends will sponsor “An Evening of Railroad Music and Songs” to celebrate our area’s railroad history and the renovation of the two Depots. This will be a “friend raising” community event as well as the kick off for the fundraising campaign.

The Friends of the Fort Mitchell and Keysville Depots, Inc. is applying to obtain tax exempt status which will allow contributions to be tax deductible. In the meantime, the Historic Staunton River Foundation accepts tax deductible contributions for the Depots renovation effort. The Historic Staunton River Foundation promotes heritage tourism and recreation opportunities in the Staunton River region and strongly supports saving the Depots and creating the trails.

What is the “Tobacco Heritage Trail” and how does it relate to the Depots?

The Tobacco Heritage Trail will provide places for local residents – and visitors too – to walk, bicycle, ride horses, and paddle canoes. Composed of many local trail segments, the Tobacco Heritage Trail will eventually become a regional network of multi-use trails that will connect parks, historic sites, and recreation resources across the counties of Brunswick, Charlotte, Halifax, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg.

Many trail segments will be designated biking trails on existing low traffic roads. Some will be “greenways” along the edges of streams and rivers. Some will be “blueways” or canoe trails on Scenic Rivers. Others will be located on former railroad beds.

The primary goal for the Tobacco Heritage Trail is to create “walk-able” and “bike-able” communities that provide safe, convenient opportunities for exercise and enjoyment for residents and visitors of all ages and levels of mobility.

The Tobacco Heritage Trail is a project of Roanoke River Rails to Trails, Inc., a not for profit organization. Local governments in Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Halifax, Charlotte, and Lunenburg counties were invited to appoint representatives to the organization’s board of directors.

To request information or offer suggestions

Contact Doris Thompson, President, Friends of the Fort Mitchell and Keysville Depots, Inc.

at 434-372-3965; Betsy Newcomb Long at 434-372-4912; or P.K. Pettus at 434-390-2632.

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