(rshsdepot) Landis, NC

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Train depot: Who owns it?
By Tim Mangan
Independent Tribune

LANDIS -- Due to a recent right-of-way claim by Norfolk Southern Railroad,
questions are abounding in Landis regarding the official owner of the
historic train depot.
According to Fred Corriher, who is believed by the town to be the owner of
the building and its contents, the railroad has a buffer on each side of the
track at the location where the depot sits.

Town Administrator F.E. Isenhour said the railroad does have the right of
way which stretches 100 feet on each side of the tracks. But he also said
there has always been the assumption that the town has partial ownership of
the property.

Isenhour said the land the depot rests on is being leased by Norfolk
Southern from the N.C. Railroad Co.

He said some of the records on the property pre-date the Civil War -- when
the railroad company was just beginning to set its right-of-way parameters.

In all of this confusion, there has been speculation around town about the
future of the depot remaining at its current location.

"I would like to see it stay where it is," Corriher said. "... This goes
back to 1975 when the railroad announced they were going to close the
 depot."

He said at that time he wrote the railroad and made a case to preserve the
depot, which was granted.

"In my opinion, I certainly wouldn't want to see somebody have to move it,"
Isenhour said.

Mayor Fred Steen said he plans to appoint a committee to see to the
continued preservation of the building at this coming Monday's board of
aldermen meeting.

"What they're trying to do is figure out who owns it," Isenhour said. "They
were doing some deed research (Wednesday) to prepare for Monday's meeting."

Steen said the committee will look not only to preserve the depot, but also
will try to ensure it stays at its current location.

Corriher said it doesn't make sense to move a train depot away from the
railroad tracks.

He said the building was established as a historic site for the town in
1976. Steen said construction on the depot initially started in 1900, and
the building was completed in 1901.

Steen said it's imperative for Landis to preserve the building, even if it
is moved. He said it has become a part of the town's heritage.

Isenhour said he doesn't believe the building will have to find a new
location unless a second rail track is built through the town.

At a recent board of aldermen meeting, town officials discussed whether or
not Landis needed to pay a fee on a fence that runs parallel with the tracks
through the downtown corridor. The town did not erect the fence, but the
railroad is seeking payment.

Isenhour said if the town were to pay for the fence, it would also have to
pick up the cost of insuring it.

When the subject was originally discussed in the public domain, town
attorney Don Sayers said that for the time being Landis should ignore the
request for payment. Steen said Sayers is also working to help find a
resolution for the train depot situation.


. Contact Tim Mangan at tmangan_@_independenttribune.com or 704-789-9141.

This story can be found at:
http://www.independenttribune.com/news/MGB5LXK00BD.html


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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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