Apex Union Depot
Encyclopedia
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
.
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 was 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, the depot was renovated and reopened to serve as a facility for Apex government offices. Freight trains and Amtrak
's Silver Star pass by the station each day, with passenger trains stopping in nearby Cary
.
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.
Apex, North Carolina
Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 37,476 according to the 2010 census., wakegov.com-Geography:Apex is located at ....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and is the centerpiece of the Apex Historic District
Apex Historic District
The Apex Historic District is the historic commercial and residential center of Apex, North Carolina, a satellite town of the state capital Raleigh. The district revolves around Salem Street, the main thoroughfare in downtown Apex. In 2007, CNNMoney.com ranked Apex as the 14th best place to live in...
. Constructed in 1914 by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
, the building shared service with the Durham and Southern Railway
Durham and Southern Railway
The Durham and Southern Railway operated of railroad from Dunn to Durham, North Carolina, USA. It was originally chartered as the Cape Fear and Northern Railway by Holly Springs resident George Benton Alford in 1892 and construction began in 1898. The name was changed to Durham and Southern in 1906...
, 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
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
caboose
Caboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
is located beside the building. In December 1998 the Apex Union Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
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
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. 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
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, economic difficulties was 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, the depot was renovated and reopened to serve as a facility for Apex government offices. Freight trains and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Silver Star pass by the station each day, with passenger trains stopping in nearby Cary
Cary (Amtrak station)
The Cary Amtrak Station, located in Cary, North Carolina, is served by four passenger trains, the Silver Star and Carolinian and Piedmont services...
.
Apex Union Depot is an example of Late Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and features a double fireplace, ticket windows, and the original switchmen’s lanterns. The brick building was originally designed to segregate
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
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.