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Historic train depot set for restoration in Greensboro

Southern Railway built the Greensboro passenger station at 400 S. Elm Street in 1899. Image courtesy of North Carolina Railroad Company.

The North Carolina Railroad Company is partnering with the City of Greensboro and other civic organizations to purchase and preserve one of the Gate City's century-old passenger train stations.

The Southern Railway Passenger Depot at 400 South Elm Street was built in 1899 and sits in the center of Greensboro's downtown.

It featured granite brought in by railroad from Mt. Airy, elaborate brickwork and a three-story turret. The building replaced what is believed to be the city's first train station which had become too small to handle the rapid business growth in the area.

The new depot was then replaced with a still larger station less than three decades later, known today as the J. Douglas Gaylon Depot on West Washington Street.

After that new depot opened in 1927, the Elm Street location was converted into office space for Southern Railway. Norfolk Southern, which succeeded that company in 1982, will sell it to make way for the major renovations and redevelopment.

The hope among city leaders is that the historic building will provide a new gateway to Greensboro's growth in the 21st century.

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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