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Apex Union Depot

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Coordinates: 35°43′55″N 78°51′1″W / 35.73194°N 78.85028°W / 35.73194; -78.85028
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Apex Union Depot
Apex Union Depot is located in North Carolina
Apex Union Depot
Apex Union Depot is located in the United States
Apex Union Depot
LocationSE corner N. Salem St. and Center St., Apex, North Carolina
Coordinates35°43′55″N 78°51′1″W / 35.73194°N 78.85028°W / 35.73194; -78.85028
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built1914
ArchitectSeaboard Air Line Railway
Architectural styleLate Victorian
NRHP reference No.88002697[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 1, 1988

The Apex Union Depot is a historic railroad station located on Salem Street in downtown Apex, North Carolina and is the centerpiece of the Apex Historic District. Constructed in 1914 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, the building shared service with the Durham and Southern Railway, but now houses the Apex Visitor's Center, Apex Chamber of Commerce, and meeting rooms rented out for special events. A 37-foot (11.3 m) Louisville and Nashville Railroad caboose is located beside the building. In December 1998 the Apex Union Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2][3]

The history of Apex revolves around the railroads and station. The town was named for being the highest point on the Chatham Railroad line between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida. In 1854 the first Apex railroad station was chartered. Over the next two decades, the land surrounding the station was developed and the town of Apex was incorporated in 1873. A new train depot was built in 1906 to accommodate the town's growth, but burned down in 1914. Later that year, the current facility was constructed. During the Great Depression, economic difficulties were responsible for a decrease in rail traffic. By 1934, only four stops were made at the Apex Union Depot. The decline continued until the 1960s when the Depot was closed and the building became the town's library. After a new library was built in 1996, the depot was renovated by the Apex Chamber of Commerce for use as its offices and a visitors' center. Freight trains and Amtrak's Silver Star pass by the station each day, with passenger trains stopping in nearby Cary.[3][4]

Apex Union Depot is an example of Late Victorian architecture and features a double fireplace, ticket windows, and the original switchmen's lanterns. The brick building was originally designed to segregate white and black riders. White people used a waiting room located on the left side of the depot. Women who were traveling alone used a room located behind one of the fireplaces.[3][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Wake County Landmarks". Capital Area Preservation, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  3. ^ a b c "Apex Union Depot Circa 1914". Apex Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  4. ^ "Town of Apex". North Carolina History Project. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  5. ^ Tom Belton and Michael T. Southern (September 1988). "Apex Union Depot" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apex Union Depot (North Carolina).
Preceding station Seaboard Air Line Railroad Following station
Moncure
toward Tampa or Miami
 Main Line Cary
toward Richmond
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