Blog Archives

Zephyrhills Train Depot

3/31/2023

The station was built in 1927 by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad as a stop on their passenger and freight line between Tampa and Jacksonville. The station served as an important transportation hub for the area. In the early 20th century, Zephyrhills was a popular winter destination for tourists seeking the area's mild climate and therapeutic mineral springs playing a key role in the development of the town's tourism industry.

The depot is a typical example of a small town railroad station, with a waiting room, ticket office, and freight room. It was designed in a Mediterranean Revival style, with stucco walls, red tile roof, and a central tower with a clock. The interior of the depot features terrazzo floors, original fixtures, and a waiting room with a fireplace.

The Zephyrhills Train Depot continued to serve passengers until 1971, when passenger service on the line was discontinued. The station was then used as a freight depot until it was closed in the late 1980s. In 1993, the station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was later restored and renovated as a community center.

San Antonio Train Depot

3/31/2023

As in most small towns _ San Antonio's population is only 776 _ the rail station was a focal point of the city's development and history. Rail service to San Antonio began in 1888 with the Orange Belt Railway. The line ran from Sanford to St. Petersburg, and was built by Russian immigrant Peter Demens, who gave St. Petersburg its name. Source: Tampa Bay Times

Credit: Floridamemeory.com photo

Lakeland Train Depot

3/31/2023

By the 1890's, just 5 years after the town’s incorporation, the Lakeland saw a high volume of train traffic passing through the depot per day. While other towns popped up and faded with the rising + setting sun, Lakeland’s remained active.

By 1893, the city of Lakeland and surrounding rail yards had become a well-known component for Florida’s shipping industry. One key part of this vibrant industry was the Winston & Bone Valley Railroad, which was, between 1910-1950, responsible for roughly 50% of the phosphate tonnage shipped in Florida. Unfortunately, nothing really remains of the original depot. Source: LAL Today

Lloyd Train Depot

3/25/2023

The depot was built in 1858 by the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama Railroad as part of its line that connected Savannah, Georgia, to Jacksonville, Florida. The depot served as a hub for transportation of agricultural products, including tobacco, cotton, and turpentine, from the surrounding area. It also played a role in transporting troops and supplies during World War II.

After the decline of railroad transportation, the depot fell into disuse and disrepair. However, it was eventually restored and renovated, and today it serves as a post office, community center and meeting place for various events and activities. Note: It is the oldest brick depot in Florida and one of only two surviving depots built before the Civil War."
... Florida Magazine

Personal Note ... Ginger and I love finding these out-of-the-way locations where there is history and stories about how Florida became the state it is. This train depot is one of 3 remaining brick depots built before the Civil War (can you believe that). I have included my attempts at using Black and White editing to create a more historical look - I hope you like it.

... more (Wiki) The building closed in 1966 after its owner at the time, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, discontinued that local service and donated it to the Jefferson County Historical Society. A few years later, ownership was transferred to the Gulf Wind Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, who own it to this day.[7] On December 2, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The structure is located near the junction of SR 59 and Lester Lawrence Road. It is currently used as a post office.

Brooksville Train Depot (1885)

3/25/2023

Although much of Florida was adding rail lines, four individuals formed the Brooksville Railroad Association and Brooksville Telegraph Company and paid $20,000 to The Florida Southern Railroad to lay track twelve miles from the main line at Pemberton Ferry (Croom), to Brooksville. Bonds were sold and the Train Depot built in 1885. The building still stands today. Source and Photo: Wikipedia
More: Hernando County Museum - Train Depot

Sopchoppy Train Depot

3/25/2023

The town of Sopchoppy was established in the late 19th century as a stop along the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railroad, which was later absorbed into the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. Originally the Depot was part of the Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad Company which was then absorbed by the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railroad (G. F. & A.).

The Sopchoppy Train Depot was built in 1916, and it served as a passenger and freight depot for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad until the 1950s. After the decline of rail transportation in the region, the depot fell into disuse and disrepair. The depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Live Oak Train Depot

3/25/2023

The town of Live Oak was founded in the mid-19th century and was an important stop along the railroad, connecting the agricultural and timber industries of the region to larger markets.

The original train depot in Live Oak was built in 1861 by the Pensacola and Georgia Railroad, but it was burned down during the Civil War. The current depot was built in 1901 by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, which had taken over the Pensacola and Georgia Railroad. It is located at 208 North Ohio Avenue, on the corner of Haines Street Northeast. The station was built at one of two junctions of an Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Seaboard Air Line Railroad lines.
Source: Wikipedia

Milton Historic Train Depot

3/24/2023

The Louisville and Nashville Depot is an historic Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot located at 206 Henry Street in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. It was built in 1909 on the site of the former Pensacola and Atlantic depot built in 1882 which burned down in 1907. In 1973, the station was closed, but partially restored with a 1976 Bicentennial grant.
Source: Wikipedia

Tampa Train Depot

3/22/2023

St Pete Train Depot

3/21/2023

Olustee Train Depot

3/14/2023

"The Olustee Depot is a small building with a big history. Dating back to the 1860s, the depot served as both a passenger and freight station and played a significant role in the development of North Florida. The Florida Gulf and Atlantic Railroad passed by the Olustee Depot transporting everything from Civil War soldiers to mail, timber, cattle, citrus and turpentine. Until the 1960s the Olustee Depot served as the hub of the community and has now been restored to serve as the center for Osceola National Forest information. This unique building lets you step back into the early 1900s while learning what the forest has to offer today."
Source: Visit Natural North Florida

Dunnellon - Phosphate and Train Depot

3/13/2023

The town was founded in 1887 and is named for a pioneer railroad man, J. F. Dunn. It started as a railroad town, with its first building being a boarding house, built in the late 1800s for railroad workers.Florida Back Roads Travel. Dunnellon is the town where one of the first discoveries of hard rock phosphate that led to the mining boom in Florida.

Dunnellon was a railroad town in 1890 when trains provided a major source of transportation. In or around 1908 the Atlantic Coast Line railroad built the depot on South Williams Street which remains today and is maintained by the Dunnellon Historical Society.

Chipley Train Depot

3/12/2023

Chipley, Florida, came into existence as a stop on the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad around 1882. The P&A was absorbed by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, who built the Louisville and Nashville Depot in downtown Chipley. Later, rail service was moved to a smaller building close to the tracks, Bill Lee Station. Source: Wikipedia

Micanopy Train Depot

3/12/2023

The former SAL depot is still standing in Micanopy on the original site. The building is located in a residential district west of the historic area. It's a wooden building and you can't miss the typical railroad depot appearance. On a 1917 sectional map of Florida the line is shown as Tampa Northern which was later acquired by the Seaboard.