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Cullman Depot
Description
The railroad and its accompanying commerce
has always been of importance to the City of Cullman as it was the L & N Railroad line
that brought the people and goods to settle the town. John G. Cullman came south from
Cincinnati to investigate the prospect of promoting a German colony by acquiring some of
the railroad land advertised. The colony flourished and grew through the 1870s and 1880s.
Originally the tracks ran above ground through the town and the train station was farther
south, more central to the residential and business areas. The town of Cullman was a hub
for transporting produce and timber, and the growth along the railroad furnished a market,
so each benefited the other.
In 1911, the L & N railroad began a project that resulted in a lowering of the tracks
to a cut dividing the city into northeast and southwest. It was at this time the station
of the present day was designed. There was need for a freight facility and property once
owned by Lazarus Ousborne was chosen for the site. Once property was acquired,
construction began on the station in the Spanish Revival Style, which resembles the
adobe-type buildings of the Southwest.
Passenger service kept this building functioning until 1968. For a while it looked as
though the building would be lost, but work by many of the town's citizens culminated in
the purchase of the station by the city.
Today, the Depot is home to the United Way and can be toured during regular business
hours. Much of the original interior materials and framework has been restored and may be
viewed on visitation. The beautiful Georgia pink marble baseboards and the mosaic tile
floor are original. Many years of use have resulted in few changes to the marble and tile,
particularly in the lobby. The lobby of the Depot also contains memorabilia from Depot
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Last updated: Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:13:20 AM  |
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