The Oliver Springs Southern Railroad Depot is one of eight historic sites included on the Endangered 8 list announced by East Tennessee Preservation Alliance, or ETPA, on Monday.

The alliance said the Oliver Springs Southern Railroad Depot, which is in Roane County, was built around 1892, and it was one of the busiest of the Coster Division. Its popularity grew along with the nationally known Oliver Springs Resort Hotel and nearby coal production, the ETPA said in a press release.

The depot building is a small-frame style, one story structure. The original interior wood has writing still visible from 123 years ago. It features gabbles and large overhangs, the ETPA said.

The last passenger train pulled through the depot in 1968. In 1983, Southern Railway planned to demolish the structure. The town rallied for saving this historic remnant and eventually struck a deal with Southern Railway, provided it would be removed from the site and relocated elsewhere. In 1986, the citizens of Oliver Springs were able to have the building moved across the street with the help of the Tennessee Valley Authority. [Read more…]