(rshsdepot) Naples, FL

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Guest commentary: Naples Depot a bit of history we can protect

Sunday, January 19, 2003

By WALT SWARTZ, Special to the Daily News

There are a lot of headlines and comments these days about preserving what's
left of the truly historic buildings in Old Naples.

The carriage or gingerbread house south of Naples Pier already is gone. A
beachfront house built in 1927 looks like it will be the next to go.

There is another 1927 building at risk. It's third oldest commercial
building in town. It's The Naples Depot, which needs all the help it can
get.

The first passenger trains arrived in downtown Naples early in January 1927.
Photographs show that The Naples Depot was still under construction that
day. The Seaboard Airline Railroad - "airline" was in reference to the type
of track - operated freight and passenger service there until the early
1940s. Seaboard then sold The Depot and five miles of trackage to the
Atlantic Coastline Railroad that had been operating from its station "way
north of town" on Airport Road (now Airport-Pulling Road). The Coastline ran
freight and passenger service, with a direct "through car" to New York in
the mid-1950s. They closed up in the early 1970s.

The building was rented out as a building supply store until a group of
local public-spirited citizens banded together to "Save The Depot" by
forming Southwest Heritage Inc., a non-profit corporation, in the mid 1970s.
They were successful. The building was purchased from the railroad and
renovated inside to serve as a civic and cultural center.

Most certainly they saved the building from the wrecking ball.

Later Mr. amd Mrs. Joseph Hirschhorn arranged for the delivery of three
railroad cars for display at The Depot. The Southern Railroad baggage car
was converted into The End of The Line Store to serve as a resale shop now
known as The Whistle Stop Shop, with proceeds going to support The Depot. A
Soo Line RR wooden caboose dating from 1909 was connected to the baggage car
and remains open for display. It's also a great place to rent for birthday
parties, etc.

To date, The Depot has successfully eluded the wrecking ball. However, today
there are now many more places in Naples available for meetings, wedding
receptions, etc. Revenue from rentals falls way short of meeting the costs
of maintaining a 76-year-old structure.

Just how long it survives will depend on the current citizens of the area
supporting the effort.

The Naples Depot does not receive funding from any governmental body. The
Naples Depot relies on rentals, memberships, donations, income from the
Lionel Operating Train Display and The Miniature Riding Railroad, plus
income from the Whistle Stop Shop. Volunteers operate the displays and the
shop. More volunteers would allow us to operate the train displays more
hours to generate more income. Volunteers can deduct travel expenses to and
from The Depot from their income taxes. Donations are fully tax-advantaged.

Your support of The Naples Depot can help perpetuate this remaining bit of
the history of Naples. Please stop by and visit at 10th Street and Fifth
Avenue South; or call 262-1776 on weekdays from 9 to 4. Train displays are
open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

Keep your steam up! And help us preserve a piece of history at The Naples
Depot!

Walt Swartz is the stationmaster in charge of all the large and small trains
and exhibits at The Depot.


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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