Pegram Depot seeks $25,000 for historic restoration

The Pegram Community Club is working to raise $25,000 to restore the town’s historic train depot and the red caboose that sits beside it, as project organizers say is critical to preserving a piece of local history.

The depot, once a bustling stop for travelers heading between Pegram and Nashville in the 1900s, has long served as the center of community life. Today, it is used as an affordable rental space for gatherings, fundraisers and annual traditions such as the town's Fourth of July barbecue.

But after decades of use, both the depot and caboose are showing signs of wear. Repairs are needed on the paint, gutters and lighting, while the caboose requires extensive sandblasting and repainting.

“We were told we need to sand blast the red caboose. That’s like $5,000 to $8,000 and then to paint it. We’re not sure the total cost. We’re in the process of getting estimates on that,” said Kelly Hutchison, secretary of the Pegram Community Club. “But my whole thing is, if we’re going to do this, let’s do it right and preserve it for all of our kids.”

The club began its restoration campaign in July, setting a goal of $25,000 to cover repairs and improvements. Hutchison said the organization relies on volunteers and rental fees to maintain the depot’s day-to-day expenses such as insurance, utilities and lawn care, but outside funding is needed to ensure the long-term preservation of the building and caboose.

“The depot has been the center of the town for more than a century,” Hutchison said. “That’s what the town of Pegram has been surrounded around.”

Beyond the physical repairs, Hutchison emphasized the role the depot plays in fostering community in Pegram — a gathering place where neighbors, young and old, connect.

“I think our biggest goal is preserving this space,” she said. “We want it to be a space where everybody can come together for community events, like for the Fourth of July ... I think it’s a sense of community at this day and time that connects people. And if the building goes away, I worry that the sense of connecting will go away.”

The depot has been painted and repaired here and there over the years, but Hutchison said the current condition calls for deeper investment. Without it, she fears the property could one day be sold and demolished.

“If we don’t raise money at these events, and we don’t keep people active, like membership, this will go away,” Hutchison said. “It’ll be sold to somebody who will just tear it down.”

The club has set up an online donation page, and is also encouraging new members of all ages to join. Hutchison said the group is eager not only to restore the depot and caboose, but to keep the spirit of small-town connection alive.

“We want to keep the small-town feel in Pegram where everybody knows their neighbor, and we encourage neighbors to get together and talk,” Hutchison said.

The community club will hold their next event, a spaghetti dinner, at the depot on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Adult plates at $10 and kids will eat for $5. The event coincides with the trunk-or-treat event hosted by the South Cheatham Ministerial Alliance at Pegram Park.