News Release
Date: 10-26-04

NCDOT and City Dedicate Century-Old Train Station

Hamlet – City leaders and state transportation officials will gather Friday to celebrate the completion of a decade-old project on a century-old train station. The dignitaries will join the citizens of Hamlet and Richmond County at 10 a.m. to dedicate the renovated 104-year-old Hamlet depot.  The public is invited to attend.

"The city of Hamlet has worked tirelessly and diligently to preserve their history while preparing for the future," said David King, Deputy Secretary for the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT).  "This beautiful station once again serves as a focal point and gathering place for the community and has become a catalyst for other renovation projects in the historic downtown district."

The NCDOT and the city of Hamlet began working together in the early 1990s on plans to preserve the old station. In 2001, the city realigned Main Street to provide enough room to relocate the historic train station to a new and safer permanent home. Construction crews spent a year excavating the site, building a basement and foundation at the new location and installing utilities. In spring 2003, the 400-ton building was lifted off its foundation, jacked-up and rotated 90 degrees then moved across the tracks onto its new foundation. 

Detailed renovation of the late Victorian style depot began last fall. Contractors demolished sheetrock, ceiling tiles and interior walls that were added over the years to expose the original wooden tongue and groove surfaces. The crews then stabilized the building, replaced portions of the metal shingle roof, replaced and repaired siding and windows, and refinished surfaces throughout the building.

The total station rehabilitation project – including relocation of Main Street, station move and renovation – cost about $11.7 million. Ten percent of that was paid with local grants and funds from the local community; federal transportation enhancement funds and state money made up the difference.

The renovated station serves Amtrak passengers catching the daily Silver Star service to New York and Florida. In addition, the Hamlet depot will serve as a regional crew base for Amtrak conductors and engineers. The upstairs rotunda is available for community functions and commercial space also is available for lease. 

"The depot has played such a vital role in our community's history," said Marchell Adams David, Hamlet's City Manager. "Everyone, from our school children to our senior citizens, has pitched in to raise funds and support the restoration."

David said the dedication will mark the beginning of the city's annual Seaboard Festival.

Seaboard Airline Railroad (now CSX Transportation) built the station in 1900. Hamlet quickly became the"hub" of the railroad because of its critical location at the junction of five major rail lines connecting Raleigh, Savannah, Atlanta, Charlotte and Wilmington. The railroad brought people and progress, spurred economic development, established businesses, and built the community. But as the number of automobiles increased and the interstate system was developed, passenger rail service diminished and the station fell into disrepair. In 1993, the NCDOT approached the city about restoring the station.

Hamlet is the latest train station to be renovated as part of the state's efforts to improve passenger train services throughout North Carolina. The department is working with communities across the state to restore historic stations and develop new multi-modal centers to better serve the traveling public. Already, historic stations in Greensboro, High Point, Morganton, Selma, Rocky Mount and Wilson have been renovated. Station restorations are underway in Marion, Old Fort and Southern Pines and a new station is being built in Kannapolis.

"The railroad has long been part of our identity as a community," said David, Hamlet's City Manager. "We're thrilled that our city can once again look to the station as a source of pride."