Trains to Sweetwater came down from Knoxville from this Southern Railway depot
Another view of Knoxville's Southern Railway depot that sent trains toward Sweetwater
Early view of the Sweetwater depot
The Southern Railway depot at Sweetwater
Sweetwater Depot
photo by Wes Schultz
Depot at Sweetwater that was torn down
photo by Wes Schultz
Former Southern Railway dining car is by the tracks at Sweetwater
photo by Wes Schultz
Sign on the diner
photo by Wes Schultz
Dining car stands near where depot was situated
photo by Wes Schultz
Park in front of the diner
photo by Wes Schultz
Old business block by the tracks
photo by Wes Schultz
Tall door and transom by Hunter's
photo by Wes Schultz
Antiques fill many ornate brick Sweetwater buildings
photo by Wes Schultz
The hostess at Hunter's Bakery and Cafe in an old bank by the tracks in downtown Sweetwater said the town no longer has its railroad station. "I think they are sorry now they tore it down," she said.
But Mayor Doyle Lowe decided to do something about it after he took office as mayor. A $335,000 state grant was secured to build a replica of the original depot. It will serve as a visitor center and will include restrooms.
The rebuilt depot will be just across the tracks from where the original depot stood.
Standing near the original depot site is a Southern Railway dining car with a Sweetwater sign on the side. Visitors were once allowed inside, and it is hoped to again open the car for guests to explore.
Jessica Morgan of the mayor's office said the total cost will be about $500,000. She said commemorative bricks are being sold for $100 each to help raise the local cost.The bricks have space for three lines of a personal message with 18 characters per line.
She said with Sweetwater's interesting downtown with many remaining historic buildings that many visitors and tour groups pay visits. She said there has long been a need for a central visitor center with restrooms.
The visitors come for the many antique stores and upscale shops at Sweetwater. Then there is the Lost Sea on one side of town and the Cheese Barn on the other.
The East Tennessee line coming down from Knoxville was built through Sweetwater in 1852. The Civil War swirled around the town, and Confederate forces in February 1865 burned the depot.