Fernley Depot gains official historic designation

FERNLEY - The Fernley & Lassen Railway Depot last month became the first building in Fernley to be named to the State Register of Historic Places.

Depot supporters hope the new historic designation will help in their efforts to secure grants to restore the 1914 wood depot and reopen it as a visitor center, museum and gift shop.

The depot ranked as the No. 14 priority a year ago when 10 projects in Nevada were chosen to split $733,000 in federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century grant funding.

"I think this should move us up," said Rodger Denn, vice president of the Fernley Preservation Society.

The society has raised about $31,000 over the years and 1999 Legislature committed $40,000 to the Fernley Depot project. Denn said the society will try to limit grant applications to $500,000 to increase chances of winning grants.

The society acquired the depot from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1986 and moved it from the railyard to Main Street. Since then, vandalism significantly damaged the interior but the society in the past two years has done initial work to restore the structure.

"The last few years we've had more active members," said Linda Sanders, the society's treasurer and the member who pushed to have the depot listed on the historic register. "It wasn't real hard (to get historic designation) but it was lengthy. I submitted my application in April 1999."

The Nevada Board of Museums and History listed the Fernley Depot on the state register on Sept. 18.

The depot has a new roof and is now served with water and electricity. In the past year, Lyon County gave the depot land to the Town of Fernley and the society quick deeded the depot to the town.

"The town owns the building and the land and we have a management agreement with them now," Denn said.

Denn said vandalism destroyed every interior door and broke all the windows. Cabinets were damaged as was the tongue and groove clear pine paneling.

"This is stuff you really can't find nowadays," Denn said.

Along with the restoration, the society has brought a donated Southern Pacific caboose to the depot. Later this month, the society plans to add a 40-foot railroad tanker donated by U.S. Gypsum.

Sanders will also try to get the depot listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"It's going to be the little downtown jewel," Sanders said. "We're excited. It's just not moving fast enough. Now I'm going to National."