Stanford station (Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Baughman's Mill and Stanford Railroad Depot
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Stanford L&N Railroad Depot
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Depot and Mill Sts., Stanford, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1911 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001373 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1978 |
The Stanford L&N Railroad Depot, also known as Baughman's Mill and Stanford Railroad Depot, is a cool old train station in Stanford, Kentucky. It was built in 1911 and was a busy spot for trains from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Today, it's a museum and a place for the community to gather!
Contents
A Look Back: The Depot's Story
The very first train station here was built in 1866. The first train arrived on May 17, 1866. This was a big deal for the area!
Why Was the Railroad Built?
Building this train line was important for moving supplies easily in central Kentucky. The railroad company, L&N, also hoped to connect to the coal mines in eastern Kentucky and even to Knoxville, Tennessee.
The government helped pay for the line to Stanford for a short time. After that, the railroad company paid for the rest of the work. The rise of coal mining made the depot very useful for people in Lincoln County.
How the Depot Helped Stanford Grow
Because of the first train station, Stanford's economy became connected to other parts of the country. The 1870s and 1880s were a time of big economic growth for the town.
The Current Building
The building you see today replaced the older one in 1911. It cost about $11,939 to build. This depot was a working train station until July 8, 1987.
A Special Place in History
In 1978, the depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because many small-town train stations were being torn down, and people wanted to save important historical buildings like this one.
Today, the depot is used as a museum, a community center, and part of a park. It's a place where people can learn about history and enjoy time together.
What Does the Depot Look Like?
The depot is a rectangular building that sits on a gentle slope. It has a red brick foundation. There's a special office for the Stationmaster that sticks out from the main building.
The outside walls are covered with weatherboarding and narrow wooden panels. The roof is made of red tiles and has a unique "gable-on-top" style. The roof's edges and central line have fancy red barrel tiles.
Rooms Inside the Station
When the station was first built, it had several different rooms. These included:
- A waiting room for women
- A waiting room for Black passengers
- A baggage room for luggage and cargo
- The Stationmaster's office, where the person in charge worked
