THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501270229
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
AT TIMES, A NEGATIVE can indeed be turned into a positive.
Just so, many hope the ashes of last fall's fire at the old Seaboard Railroad Station on Main Street can eventually lead to culmination of countless dreams of preserving the landmark.
For years, Suffolkians as well as visitors to the city have driven past the abandoned 19th century depot, now owned by CSX, and wistfully thought of turning it into a quaint little restaurant or perhaps some kind of specialty shop for gifts or antiques. Or, they've thought, someone should make it into a museum or perhaps a visitor's center.
The historic brick building - filled with memories of a bygone era - has caught the eye of numerous restaurant-owning fanciers.
``You'd have to get in line behind a lot of people,'' said Bob Chisom, executive director of the Downtown Suffolk Association and a leader of efforts to preserve the station.
Chisom and DSA officials had tried for nearly two years to buy the property at the northern entrance to the city's downtown. The station was built as a passenger and freight terminal in 1885 but has not been used since 1968.
On Nov. 23, an early morning fire gutted the interior of the building that city inspectors had declared a fire hazard three weeks earlier. Many feared the destruction spelled doom, because CSX officials said they would bulldoze the building rather than repair it.
Quickly Chisom and others interested in saving the train station formed a committee called S.O.S. - Save Our Station. Betsy Brothers, president of the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society, lent that organization's support.
S.O.S. began lobbying efforts, negotiating with CSX and with city officials while drumming up community support.
Earlier this month, CSX agreed to transfer the property to the DSA for an undisclosed price.
On Jan. 18, S.O.S. leaders asked for and got support from the City Council, which authorized an application for a $400,000 federal grant to help renovate the structure. The city would be required to match 20 percent of the grant with money or in-kind services.
S.O.S. officials believe the grant, through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, will help them realize the dreams of those who want to preserve the piece of history.
The S.O.S. committee had also asked citizens to write letters supporting the project. They needed at least 200 letters to accompany the application package. By late last week, they had received almost twice that many as the Jan. 31 deadline neared.
``Full steam ahead,'' said Chisom, who will drive to Richmond - by car - to deliver the application, the first step in trying to make dreams come true. ILLUSTRATION: [Color illustration on the Cover]
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Betsy Brothers, president of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical
Society, has given the group's support to the S.O.S. committee's
fight to save the old depot.
by CNB