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Salem Depot Rededicated

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October 5, 1996 during the Apple Butter Festival, The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce rededicated the Depot At Salem Depot Park. The affair   chronicled one of the latest entries in two hundred plus year history of Salem and was the feature event for Salem's participation in West Virginia Homecoming '96. 

In 1985, an historic era ended for Salem.   During that year, the last scheduled train traveled the tracks through the city bringing  an end to 129 years of rail service. The Northwestern Virginia Railroad originally developed a rail line from Grafton to Parkersburg,  which followed along the Northwestern Turnpike.  It required digging many tunnels through the hilly terrain.  " The Great Railroad  Celebration " of  July 1857 marked the arrival of the first train in Salem.  It  was an event that changed Salem forever, most notably by moving the town 300 yards to the west to a level site that was suitable for the construction of a depot and freight station.   The current depot was built in 1912.  The economy was impacted by the allowing Salem access to the eastern market for supplying beef and lumber.  Shipping then shifted from railways to roadways. With the freight yard's reduced activity, it was demolished in 1976.  The Depot remained , although it was renovated from a passenger station to a work place for railroad employees.  In 1988, the tracks were pulled thus removing a visible link to Salem's past. 

October 5, 1996 was a monumental day for Salem.   In a way , it could  be called " The Great Railroad Celebration II ". It marks the eleven year transformation since rail service ceased.  The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salem launched the project of restoring the    Depot and creating a surrounding park in 1991.  As part of the park evolution,    Depot Stage  was constructed in the park in 1992 and the Apple Butter Festival relocated to the park that year. In 1994 , John Jr. , Paul & Andrew Kovach donated a caboose that enhanced the area.  This 1929 B & O caboose was then placed at the park and restored according to CSX blue prints and paint codes.  The restoration effort , up to that point, had been started by generous donations from area residents and businesses along with funding from the city. . 


Governor Gaston Caperton awarded Salem an Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Grant in 1994 for restoration of the depot. With additional funding from the City of Salem and private donations, work transformed the depot back to its near original condition. An open air pavilion was added in 1997. A small stage was added to the pavilion in 1999. A cement floor was put into place in 2000. This restoration project fulfills the Chamber's mission of creating a living historical park that is the centerpiece of downtown Salem.

Through it all the mission of the park development has been to create a living historical park that will shine as the centerpiece of downtown Salem!