Dayton asks state help to preserve old train depot

Dayton residents told the state transportation board Tuesday they are running out of chances to save the old Dayton Depot.

"The corner is sold if we do not stop the process," said Roxie Paine. "A drive-through Taco Bell will be there."

She said the group applied for money through the Nevada Department of Transportation, seeking $627,000 to buy the land and restore the historic building. She said they failed to win support for "enhancement" funding by just one vote.

Tuesday, Paine told the board headed by Gov. Kenny Guinn they are asking only the $385,000 needed to buy the land. She said if the landowner gets a commitment the state will try help them out, he will hold on for a while but without any commitment, the land will be sold and they will have to move the building to a spot barely large enough to hold it.

"Our small, fragile little town needs to be saved," Paine said telling the board historic sites in Dayton are being lost at an alarming rate as the area develops. She said the historic rail depot could become a focal point -- especially with plans for the V&T Railroad moving ahead.

She said they would like to restore the building located along Highway 50 and run a rail spur from the V&T line to the site to help draw tourists to Dayton.

Guinn told Paine the board can't magically rearrange all the priorities and give them money but that he would ask state transportation director Jeff Fontaine to look for possible funding within the enhancements budget.

He also suggested they go to the Economic Development and Tourism commissions as well as Sens. John Ensign and Harry Reid for help.