The Wiggins Depot was constructed in Wiggins, Mississippi in 1910 by the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad (G&SIRR) to serve as a replacement for the company’s original depot that was destroyed by fire in January of the same year.[4] In the later half of the 20th century, the depot was being used only for storage and had fallen into disrepair. In 1999, the depot was acquired by the City of Wiggins and was designated a Mississippi Landmark. During the first decade of the 21st century, the depot was relocated within the city and was renovated for use as office space.
Original G&SIRR Depot (center right) in Wiggins before the 1910 fire
The G&SIRR was completed between Gulfport and Hattiesburg on January 1, 1897, and the town of Wiggins was the busiest population center along that route.[4][5] In 1903, Finkbine Lumber Company opened a new sawmill in Wiggins,[6] which required rail transportation for delivering logs to the mill and for shipping lumber to outside markets. The original G&SIRR depot in Wiggins was a two-story structure, but it was destroyed by fire on January 21, 1910.[4]
The replacement G&SIRR depot was a one-story, wood-frame structure completed in 1910. It was located next to the railroad at 30°51′30″N89°08′17″W / 30.85833°N 89.13806°W / 30.85833; -89.13806. Without loading docks, the depot measured 110 feet (34 m) long and 25 feet (7.6 m) wide.
By the end of the 20th century, the Wiggins depot had fallen into a state of disrepair and was being used only for storage and as periodic office space by railroad personnel. Out of 14 G&SIRR depots built, the Wiggins depot was the only one still standing between Gulfport and Hattiesburg.[10][11] KCS agreed to donate the depot to the City of Wiggins with the stipulation that it be moved off railroad property.[12]Mississippi Department of Archives and History designated the depot a Mississippi Landmark on April 6, 1999, and issued a permit to the City of Wiggins for relocation and restoration of the structure with the intent of housing community activities, tourism functions, and offices for economic development.[13]
Restoration
On December 6, 2000, the depot was moved approximately 3 blocks to its new location on City property that was acquired in a land swap with Stone County.[12] After the depot was designated a Mississippi Landmark, it qualified for a restoration grant under the Mississippi Department of Transportation Enhancement Program[14] using federally allocated funds (80%) and local funding (20%).[12] Restoration began approximately 18 months after the depot was secured at its new location.[15]
During the summer of 2005, restoration of the depot was completed under the direction of architect Kevin Fitzpatrick, and Stone County Economic Development Partnership (SCEDP) occupied the building in mid-August of that year.[11] On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck south Mississippi, but caused only minor damage to the depot.[16]
Tornado
On the night of January 4, 2007, a tornado hit the depot and destroyed half the roof.[16][17][18] The architectural firm of Williams & Associates in Biloxi, was selected to plan the restoration.[19] The tornado damage was repaired using funds obtained through an insurance settlement, and SCEDP moved back into the depot in June 2009.[20]
As of 2022,[needs update] the Wiggins Depot still served as office space for Stone County Economic Development Partnership.[1]
References
^ abStone County Economic Development Partnership Retrieved 2022-03-19
^Mississippi Department of Archives and History Historic Resources Inventory Fact Sheet—Wiggins Depot Retrieved 2013-12-09
^(PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-09. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
^SCEDP announces move to historic depot. Stone County Enterprise (June 17, 2009).
January 06, 2023
wiggins, depot, mississippi, wiggins, depot, constructed, wiggins, mississippi, 1910, gulf, ship, island, railroad, sirr, serve, replacement, company, original, depot, that, destroyed, fire, january, same, year, later, half, 20th, century, depot, being, used, . The Wiggins Depot was constructed in Wiggins Mississippi in 1910 by the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad G amp SIRR to serve as a replacement for the company s original depot that was destroyed by fire in January of the same year 4 In the later half of the 20th century the depot was being used only for storage and had fallen into disrepair In 1999 the depot was acquired by the City of Wiggins and was designated a Mississippi Landmark During the first decade of the 21st century the depot was relocated within the city and was renovated for use as office space Wiggins DepotWiggins Depot February 2017Location115 East Hatten AvenueWiggins Mississippi 39577 1 Coordinates30 51 43 N 89 08 15 W 30 86204 N 89 13757 W 30 86204 89 13757 Coordinates 30 51 43 N 89 08 15 W 30 86204 N 89 13757 W 30 86204 89 13757Built1910Built forGulf and Ship Island RailroadRestored2002 05 amp 2007 08Restored byCity of WigginsArchitectKevin FitzpatrickBay Saint Louis MSGoverning bodyCity of WigginsMississippi LandmarkOfficial nameGulf amp Ship Island RailroadDepot II Wiggins Depot 2 DesignatedApril 6 1999Reference no 131 WIG 0004 2 ML 3 Location of Wiggins Depot in Mississippi Contents 1 History 2 Restoration 2 1 Tornado 3 ReferencesHistory Edit Original G amp SIRR Depot center right in Wiggins before the 1910 fire The G amp SIRR was completed between Gulfport and Hattiesburg on January 1 1897 and the town of Wiggins was the busiest population center along that route 4 5 In 1903 Finkbine Lumber Company opened a new sawmill in Wiggins 6 which required rail transportation for delivering logs to the mill and for shipping lumber to outside markets The original G amp SIRR depot in Wiggins was a two story structure but it was destroyed by fire on January 21 1910 4 The replacement G amp SIRR depot was a one story wood frame structure completed in 1910 It was located next to the railroad at 30 51 30 N 89 08 17 W 30 85833 N 89 13806 W 30 85833 89 13806 Without loading docks the depot measured 110 feet 34 m long and 25 feet 7 6 m wide In 1924 G amp SIRR became a subsidiary of Illinois Central Railroad and lost its independent identity in 1946 7 MidSouth Rail Corporation acquired the Illinois Central Railroad line from Gulfport to Hattiesburg in 1986 8 and Kansas City Southern Railway Company KCS purchased the line in 1994 9 Wiggins Depot at its original location in 1960s By the end of the 20th century the Wiggins depot had fallen into a state of disrepair and was being used only for storage and as periodic office space by railroad personnel Out of 14 G amp SIRR depots built the Wiggins depot was the only one still standing between Gulfport and Hattiesburg 10 11 KCS agreed to donate the depot to the City of Wiggins with the stipulation that it be moved off railroad property 12 Mississippi Department of Archives and History designated the depot a Mississippi Landmark on April 6 1999 and issued a permit to the City of Wiggins for relocation and restoration of the structure with the intent of housing community activities tourism functions and offices for economic development 13 Restoration EditOn December 6 2000 the depot was moved approximately 3 blocks to its new location on City property that was acquired in a land swap with Stone County 12 After the depot was designated a Mississippi Landmark it qualified for a restoration grant under the Mississippi Department of Transportation Enhancement Program 14 using federally allocated funds 80 and local funding 20 12 Restoration began approximately 18 months after the depot was secured at its new location 15 During the summer of 2005 restoration of the depot was completed under the direction of architect Kevin Fitzpatrick and Stone County Economic Development Partnership SCEDP occupied the building in mid August of that year 11 On August 29 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck south Mississippi but caused only minor damage to the depot 16 Tornado Edit On the night of January 4 2007 a tornado hit the depot and destroyed half the roof 16 17 18 The architectural firm of Williams amp Associates in Biloxi was selected to plan the restoration 19 The tornado damage was repaired using funds obtained through an insurance settlement and SCEDP moved back into the depot in June 2009 20 As of 2022 needs update the Wiggins Depot still served as office space for Stone County Economic Development Partnership 1 References Edit a b Stone County Economic Development Partnership Retrieved 2022 03 19 Mississippi Department of Archives and History Historic Resources Inventory Fact Sheet Wiggins Depot Retrieved 2013 12 09 Mississippi Landmarks Stone County PDF Mississippi Department of Archives and History Archived from the original PDF on 2010 10 09 Retrieved 2013 12 09 a b c Wiggins fire Retrieved 2013 12 12 Mississippi Rails Gulf amp Ship Island Railroad Retrieved 2013 12 09 Mississippi Rails Finkbine Lumber Company Retrieved 2013 12 09 Gulf amp Ship Island Railroad Index Midsouth Rail Corporation completes purchase The Southern Herald Retrieved 2013 12 09 The Kansas City Southern Lines Midsouth Railroad Corporation Retrieved 2013 12 09 Transportation Enhancement Project Application Wiggins Depot March 16 1999 Prepared by City of Wiggins Russell Hatten Mayor a b Historic depot once again center of activity Stone County Enterprise August 17 2005 a b c Historic Wiggins Depot on the move to a new location Stone County Enterprise December 6 2000 Mississippi Department of Archives and History Minutes of a Meeting of the Board of Trustees April 23 1999 Retrieved 2013 12 11 MDOT Transportation Enhancement Program Retrieved 2013 12 12 Work to begin on Depot Stone County Enterprise June 12 2002 a b Tornado takes Wiggins historic train depot Retrieved 2013 12 10 NOAA Storm Prediction Center Reports for 01 04 07 Retrieved 2013 12 10 Torn to pieces twister ruins historic Wiggins train depot SunHerald January 6 2007 Depot to be repaired Retrieved 2013 12 10 SCEDP announces move to historic depot Stone County Enterprise June 17 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wiggins Depot Mississippi amp oldid 1078027259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
