HJ756: Commending the Chatham Southern Railway Depot.
WHEREAS, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot, a well-known landmark in the Town of Chatham, has played an important role in community life for 100 years; and
WHEREAS, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot was built in 1918 as a stop on Southern Railway’s dual north-south mainline between Washington and Atlanta and became the primary station for both passengers and freight in Pittsylvania County; and
WHEREAS, in addition to facilitating commerce within the region, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot served as a hub for businessmen, vacationers, and soldiers, especially during World War II; the depot also helped Chatham Hall and Hargrave Military Academy thrive by ensuring that students had transportation to and from the schools; and
WHEREAS, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot played a pivotal role in local economic development in the 1950s; after a half century of service, the depot was closed to passenger traffic in 1965 and retired from active use in 1975; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot was saved from demolition by Pittsylvania County officials, the Pittsylvania County Historical Society, and local citizens; after a multiphase preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation, the depot was reopened in 2013 as the History Research Center and Library; and
WHEREAS, operating under the Pittsylvania County Public Library, the Pittsylvania History Research Center and Library serves as a veterans’ museum, a meeting place for civic groups and cultural presentations, and a valuable resource for local history and genealogical research; and
WHEREAS, an exceptional example of railroad architecture with Colonial Revival influences, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 2015; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Chatham Southern Railway Depot on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its construction; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Pittsylvania County Historical Society as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the Chatham Southern Railroad Depot’s important place in the history and heritage of Pittsylvania County and the Town of Chatham.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 756
WHEREAS, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot, a well-known landmark in the Town of Chatham, has played an important role in community life for 100 years; and
WHEREAS, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot was built in 1918 as a stop on Southern Railway’s dual north-south mainline between Washington and Atlanta and became the primary station for both passengers and freight in Pittsylvania County; and
WHEREAS, in addition to facilitating commerce with the region, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot served as a hub for businessmen, vacationers, and soldiers, especially during World War II; the depot also helped Chatham Hall and Hargrave Military Academy thrive by ensuring that students had transportation to and from the schools; and
WHEREAS, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot played a pivotal role in local economic development in the 1950s; after a half century of service, the depot was closed to passenger traffic in 1965 and retired from active use in 1975; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot was saved from demolition by Pittsylvania County officials, the Pittsylvania County Historical Society, and local citizens; after a multiphase preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation, the depot was reopened in 2013 as the History Research Center and Library; and
WHEREAS, operating under the Pittsylvania County Public Library, the Pittsylvania History Research Center and Library serves as a veterans’ museum, a meeting place for civic groups and cultural presentations, and a valuable resource for local history and genealogy research; and
WHEREAS, an exceptional example of railroad architecture with Colonial Revival influences, the Chatham Southern Railway Depot was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 2015; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Chatham Southern Railway Depot on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its construction; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Pittsylvania County Historical Society as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the Chatham Southern Railroad Depot’s important place in the history and heritage of Pittsylvania County and the Town of Chatham.