THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411240628
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Fire swept an abandoned 19th century railroad station Wednesday morning, raising questions about the future of the historic downtown structure that had long been considered a candidate for restoration.
The brick exterior of the Main Street railroad depot, built in 1885 as a passenger and freight station, was still standing after the blaze. But firefighters said damage to the roof and interior was heavy, and city inspectors said the structure might have to be demolished.
The cause of the fire was unknown Wednesday evening.
``It made me sick when I rode by and saw it all burned out,'' said Betsy Brothers, president of the Nansemond-Suffolk Historical Society. ``We've been trying forever to make plans for that poor little thing, and now it looks like we've waited too long.''
The building is owned by CSX Transportation, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad division of CSX Corp., based in Richmond.
Renovation plans have never materialized, but the Downtown Suffolk Association has tried for years to acquire the building. It often has been considered a possible site for a restaurant or visitor's center.
It had become a city landmark because of its downtown location and its Queen Anne architecture. A cone-topped tower extending from one side once housed a telegraph operator who notified other stations of approaching trains.
Now painted white, the brick shell is more than 10 inches thick, firefighters said. The interior once included two waiting rooms and a fireplace.
Fire officials said Wednesday that the building was being used for light storage, though vagrants also had used it for shelter.
City Building Inspector Vanessa Savage said she sent a notice to CSX on Nov. 4, warning that the building was a fire hazard and needed to be repaired or razed. She had not received a postage receipt as of Wednesday confirming that the company had received the notice, she said.
A CSX spokesman, reached Wednesday afternoon, had not heard of the fire and was not familiar with the Suffolk building. by CNB