TORCH to Hold Dedication of Renovated Railroad St. Train Depot

The non-profit Hartwell group TORCH will be holding an open house and dedication for the renovated Train Depot on Railroad St.

The open house and dedication will take place at noon on Saturday, July 10.

TORCH members have been working for the past 10 years to revitalize Railroad St which runs parallel to and behind Depot St.

The train depot is just one part of a grand design for Railroad St. That also includes creating a community health and wellness park, and Farmer’s Market for citizens and visitors to Hartwell and Hart County.

TORCH president Mary Gidley tells WLHR News the health and wellness park will include a play area for the kids, a farmer’s market, an art walk, walking trails, and fitness stations.

They also hope to have restaurants and other retailers locate there as an adjunct to the now popular Depot St. which runs parallel to Railroad St.

Renovation plans for the long-abandoned Railroad St. began some 10 years ago when the idea was brought before the City and County by the late Nicki Meyer who was the then Hart County Chamber Executive Director.

That’s when the non-profit group, TORCH which stands for Transformation Opportunities in Revitalizing Communities of Hart, was formed to raise money for the project.

At the time, the City and County both contributed funds to get the work started, but in 2016, the County backed out of any future funding, after it was learned that the properties along Railroad St. are owned privately by the Hartwell Railroad, but have been leased for 99-years to TORCH.

Under Georgia law, the County can not contribute funds or labor to a privately owned property.

Again, the open house and dedication of the Railroad St. Train depot takes place at noon on Saturday July 10 and the public is invited.

Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can contact Mary Gidley at 706-717-1121.