June 1994

Linville Depot as a Home

This is the former ET&WNC Railroad Linville Depot. It's still in Linville but has been moved from its place alongside the right-of-way over to Grape Street. The depot was sold in 1940 for $50 when the railroad was abandoned. The individual left it basically as it was but turned it into a store and gas station. Eventually, the store went out of business, and it was sold again in the 50s to the present owner's late husband who added brick and stone and converted it into their home. It was still at its original location on the railroad right-of-way. In 1970, the state widened the highway next to it and the house had to be moved or torn down, so they picked it up and moved it to this location on Grape Street. It's still the same size that it was when it was a depot, but gables have been added to what was a hip roof.

Update: Since this photo, the former depot has been donated, picked up, moved next door to the Avery County Museum in Newland, and is in the process of being fully and faithfully restored to its original look and feel as a depot. Chalk one up for a nice save of a very historic structure. It doesn't happen very often. You can see some in-progress shots in my later year photos.