Barnesville Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 beside the tracks in central Barnesville, this brick passenger depot served a small agricultural and commercial center. It was designed by the Central of Georgia Railroad's Chief Engineer. Its features include wood-framed windows and doors, a fifteen-foot roof overhang carried on large brackets, and scalloped gables. Inside are a large waiting room, a ticket and office section, a smaller waiting room and a baggage room; the two waiting rooms were originally separate for white and Black passengers. The depot replaced a tiny earlier station that passengers had criticized. It was the town's chief tie to the outside world and the setting for local soldiers leaving for World War I, celebrations when Lamar County was created in 1920, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1938 visit to dedicate a rural electric cooperative. Passenger service ended in 1971, and a citizen campaign saved the building from demolition. It was later restored by a local historical society for use as a museum and meeting space.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a good, intact example of a small-town railroad passenger depot with ticket office and waiting rooms. It was the town's main link to the outside world and the site of local events, including World War I troop departures, the celebration of Lamar County's creation in 1920, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1938 arrival.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86000916, listed April 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Plaza Way and Main St., Barnesville |
|---|---|
| County | Lamar County |
| Listed | April 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000916 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Central of Georgia Railroad, Chief Engineer |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing restoration for use as a meeting space and museum after brief use as a restaurant; passenger service ended in 1971. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Barnesville Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.05449, -84.15572 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86000916.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24197385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.