“The Saluda Historic Depot has been awarded a grant of $15,000 by the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Henderson County,” said Judy Ward, chair of the Saluda Historic Depot board.

According to Ward, the grant will be used for doing exterior repairs, painting and improvements.

“In May 2015, our organization created a railroad and heritage museum which has become a destination for tourists, railroad enthusiasts, history buffs, and an educational opportunity for students. The grant from the Community Foundation of Henderson County will give us additional resources to make needed and deferred repairs to a building built in 1903 and is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

“This grant will make it possible for us to continue the growth in operations of the Saluda Historic Depot and museum. This support by the Community Foundation of Henderson County hallmarks the importance of the depot to the Saluda community, its heritage, and its role as a contributor to Saluda’s growing tourism economy,” Ward said.

The Community Foundation of Henderson County supports charitable programs in the greater Henderson County area. It was founded in 1982, and administers over 500 funds with assets of over $80 million.

A group of citizens formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and purchased the building in June 2016, and has created a railroad and heritage museum to celebrate and memorialize the town’s railroad history and its beginnings.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. and includes seasonal exhibits. Admission is free and voluntary donations are accepted. The Saluda Historic Depot is located at 32 W. Main St., Saluda.   

For more information, contact Ward at 828-674-5958 or judyward@charter.net, or Cathy Jackson at 828-817-2876 or cathy@saludalifestyles.com.

– Submitted by Cathy Jackson