Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Renovations underway at Depot Museum

There will be some differences, but visitors to the Prescott Depot Museum will soon be experiencing a taste of the historic past.

Renovations to the depot began about a week ago, according to Jon Chadwell, executive director for economic development for Prescott and Nevada County. The contractor for the job  Edie Construction from Malvern  has six months to complete the project.

Chadwell said a $199,300 grant from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department was awarded in 2000 and work has been ongoing to get started on the bricks and mortar part of the project.

French and Harris, a Hot Springs architecture firm, have worked on the project. Chadwell said Ricco Harris, a Prescott native, was familiar with other depots around the state that have recently undergone renovation.

Camden's depot houses several offices, including the city's chamber of commerce. Arkadelphia recently completed work on its depot and Glenwood's Chamber of Commerce has moved that city's depot preparing to restore the building.

"I think a lot of towns realize how important their heritage and their history is," Chadwell said of the recent trend to save and renovate depots. "They're just trying to preserve it before it's too late."

At the local depot, the original brick pavers used for the sidewalks have been replaced with asphalt and concrete over the years. Chadwell said replacing those is one of the first parts of the project. Work has also started on the electrical system.

There will be some exterior work. Chadwell said the interior work will be extensive, but the goal will be to keep as much of the historic "flavor" of the building as possible. With that in mind, the ceilings will not be lowered and the original trim will be kept as much as possible.

There will, of course, be some necessary changes. Handicapped restrooms will be added and the building will be made handicap accessible. That includes a wheelchair ramp at the rear of the building in the area of the loading dock, which will also be restored.

Another of the additions is a community room. Chadwell said the room will be open for community functions, including educational functions for students.

The depot has housed a museum for several years, Chadwell said.

Chadwell said the items have been moved and thanked several city workers who pitched in during their time off to help move the museum pieces.