Landrum officials are planning to renovate its train depot to its historic condition and has plans to add a covered stage that looks like an old passenger platform outdoors.
Landrum City Council met Tuesday and approved applying for a Polk County Community Foundation grant to help with the first three phases of the project.
The city is seeking $38,400 from the foundation and if approved, will match the grant 20 percent, or $9,600.
With the $48,000, the city plans to solicit architectural bids to design renovations that include the stage, outdoor landscaping and interior renovations. Landrum also hopes if the grant is approved, to be able to construct the stage/platform to use for city festivals and other activities.
The last phase will be to do other renovations to the depot, which the city plans to seek additional grant funding to complete.
The depot, located off North Trade Avenue played a critical role in the establishment of the City of Landrum, with the citys first name being “Landrums Station, S.C.”
The city was named after John Gill Landrum, who gave the railroad land in 1877 for the construction of a train station. The first station was constructed shortly after 1877 and that station was destroyed by fire with the new one constructed at the same location in 1880. Landrum was incorporated as a town in 1912 and was changed to a city in 1973.
The Landrum depot functioned as a rail depot until 1973. Ownership of the building was transferred to the city in 1975 and the building currently functions as a community building and transportation museum. Civic groups, such as the Lions Club as well as residents use the depot for a meeting place, holding events and family reunions. The museum includes memorabilia that was used when the building functioned as a train station.
The depot has been remodeled at different times throughout its history, with the latest occurring in 1975, according to Landrums grant application.
“Unfortunately, many of these improvements detract from its historic past,” states the application. “The building currently contains a drop ceiling, dark wall paneling, is vinyl sided and needs to be upgraded.
“It is the citys desire to hire a design professional with a background in historic preservation to upgrade, restore and bring the building up to acceptable historic preservation standards and to make it handicapped accessible as well.”
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