Submitted by
Dave Hodges, President
Gulf Wind Chapter
National Railway Historical Society, Inc.
The Gulf Wind Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. (NRHS) has embarked on a project to begin recording videos of local residents' memories of and past experiences at the Lloyd Depot. Our goal is to create a historical record for the chapter's archives, as well as a community resource for those wanting to learn more about this famous – and very old – train station. Each person who participates can talk about what they remember best about the depot, train trips they took and what this historic building means to them. Funny stories and anecdotes are welcomed.
We will start recording these videos beginning Saturday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. until noon at the depot, or as long as we have folks willing to talk and share their memories.
Anyone who is unable to stop by that day can contact me about arranging an alternative date and time for a video session.
When the recordings are assembled and edited, our plan is to make them a part of the historic displays we have at the depot for our various events, and we are eager to add more folks as word spreads about our project. It's important that the chapter gathers these interviews for preservation purposes, and what better sources are there than local residents with stories to share?
Located at 8781 Old Lloyd Rd., just east of S.R. 59, the Lloyd Depot was built in 1858 by the Pensacola & Georgia Railroad, and it remained in service until the 1960s. When the building was closed by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1966 and faced demolition, the railroad agreed to transfer the building to the Jefferson County Historical Association for preservation. The Gulf Wind Chapter of the NRHS assumed ownership of the building in 1975 and has carried out several phases of restoration work since that time.
For more information about this project or the NRHS, visit gulfwindnrhs.org or call Hodges at (850) 566-7486.
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