Beaufort County could help put Yemassee train depot restoration on right track

Amtrak riders could someday step into the Yemassee train depot and feel like they've taken a ride back in time.

Beaufort County leaders are beginning to explore ways to help restore the historic depot to its former glory.

While the exterior of the building got a facelift a few years ago, “the interior is in in dire need of (renovation),” county administrator Gary Kubic recently told members of the Beaufort County Council.

The depot, which straddles the boundary between Beaufort and Hampton counties, serves as the only Amtrak station between Savannah and Charleston.

While it lacks modern comforts like restrooms and indoor seating, the depot’s rich history stretches back more than a century.

From 1915 to 1965, more than 500,000 recruits passed through on their way to Parris Island for basic training.

“It has a strong military historical presence,” Kubic said.

County leaders aren’t suggesting renovating the depot on the local taxpayers’ dime, but say they can help coordinate with Yemassee, Hampton County, and Parris Island to research the history of the facility and potentially help apply for grant funding.

“We have access to a lot of good data on how to restore the facility to its original condition,” Kubic said.

County planning director Tony Criscitiello said, “It’s pretty neat that we could create something that is a throwback to the early part of last century.”

Members of the County Council reflected fondly on personal memories of the depot.

“Back in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, I used to ride the train from (Yemassee) to (Washington), where I was going to school,” Councilman Paul Sommerville said. “I have a lot of nostalgic attachment to it.”

Councilman Gerald Dawson, who called the depot a “vital part of the Lowcountry,” said he recalls that “in (his) younger days, (the train) was the only means of leaving Beaufort County going north other than driving or riding a Greyhound bus.”

Councilman Stu Rodman said the depot serves as a kind of “gateway to the county” and suggested it would be a good location for a visitors and tourism center.

“I’d love to see us restore it,” he said.

Kubic said county staff will spend the coming months developing a plan “that will tie in the (depot’s) historical presence with tourism and potential economic development.”

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Beaufort County could help put Yemassee train depot restoration on right track."