Depot on way to grand opening
Everything is on track for the Aiken Railroad Depot’s Sept. 18 grand opening, according to All Aboard! Chairman Tim Simmons.
Work on the main building is nearing completion and the last of the museum’s interactive exhibits designed by The History Workshop of Charleston is expected to be installed by July 28 in the mezzanine. After furniture is placed in the building, City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department staff will move in to what will serve as the department’s headquarters and City’s Visitors Center; and all that will be left is some general landscaping, planting and sidewalk paving before the depot opens its doors to the public.
“We’re going through the punch list with the contractor now,” Simmons said.
The new depot replicates the original building constructed in 1899, and work on the main building and exterior work on the two dining cars make up phase one of the project.
Once the Friends of the Railroad Depot can check off on phase one, the group will hand over the depot to the City of Aiken and, more than likely, enter into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the facility.
Everything is on track for the Aiken Railroad Depot’s Sept. 18 grand opening, according to All Aboard! Chairman Tim Simmons.
Work on the main building is nearing completion and the last of the museum’s interactive exhibits designed by The History Workshop of Charleston is expected to be installed by July 28 in the mezzanine. After furniture is placed in the building, City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department staff will move in to what will serve as the department’s headquarters and City’s Visitors Center; and all that will be left is some general landscaping, planting and sidewalk paving before the depot opens its doors to the public.
“We’re going through the punch list with the contractor now,” Simmons said.
The new depot replicates the original building constructed in 1899, and work on the main building and exterior work on the two dining cars make up phase one of the project.
Once the Friends of the Railroad Depot can check off on phase one, the group will hand over the depot to the City of Aiken and, more than likely, enter into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the facility.
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Aiken tree lighting this Friday evening.
The City of Aiken will hold its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the intersection of Laurens Street and Richland Avenue on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC.
Local leaders review the State of Our Community;Aiken.
As they addressed the “State of Our Community” at the annual Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday, four speakers sounded a common theme in describing the City of Aiken, Aiken County, the Aiken County School District and the business community – a reason for optimism despite a challenging economy.
The speakers included Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh, County Council Chairman Ronnie Young, school Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt and Chamber board Chairman Joe Lewis of the Savannah River Banking Company. About 400 people attended the event.
State of Business
State of Education
State of County
City of Aiken, The full story..
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC.
Local leaders review the State of Our Community;Aiken.
As they addressed the “State of Our Community” at the annual Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday, four speakers sounded a common theme in describing the City of Aiken, Aiken County, the Aiken County School District and the business community – a reason for optimism despite a challenging economy. The speakers included Aiken Mayor [...]
Aiken Depot coming together
The construction currently taking place on Union Street is beginning to look more and more like Aiken’s original railroad depot each day.
Tim Simmons, chairman of the All Aboard! fundraising campaign, said members of the railroad committee are working closely with the depot’s architect and contractors that make sure the building’s interior and exterior are closely in line with what the depot looked like in the early 1900s. Workers with Stewart Builders Inc. are constructing the depot.
“There is a lot of effort to make sure the depot is historically in keeping with the original building,” said Simmons.
He said committee members are relying on historical documents and old photographs to assist them in trying to replicate the building.
The depot is being built north of Park Avenue on the Union Street right-of-way.
The $3 million project will serve as a railroad museum, complete with interactive railroad dioramas which will be stored on the second floor. The building will also be used as a visitor’s center for the City of Aiken and the office for the City of Aiken’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department.
Front Gate Properties, We’re selling the BEST Real Estate in Aiken, SC.