Cambria (Christiansburg) Depot

The Christiansburg Depot is one of the only two known surviving railroad structures erected during the Reconstruction period in southwest Virginia. the building is significant not only because it is one of the oldest depots in the state of Virginia, but also because it embodies the elements of high style Victorian Tuscan Italianate architecture made popular by the pattern books of the period. Few stations of its size remain which are as imposing. The board and batten, Italianate structure with its central tower, overhanging eaves, and deep bracketted frieze is a prominent commercial landmark in the region as well as being the most impressve structure in the community of Cambria. (Quoted from National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form, 1985)

Historical Summary (Adapted from the National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form, 1985)

1851	The Virginia-Tennessee Railroad chose the site for the Christiansburg Depot a mile north of courthouse square on the north side of Zion Hill. (Visit Schaffer Memorial Baptist Church and the original Christiansburg Institute on the top of Zion Hill)
1854	The Virginia-Tennessee Railroad reaches Christiansburg. (Take the Dixie Caverns Exit in I-81 and follow US 460/Rt.11 towards Christiansburg. The route parallels the Virginia-Tennessee rail line past Lafayette, founded in 1826, and through two railroad villages: Elliston and Shawsville before climbing Christiansburg Mountain. Stay on 470/Rt.11 until you reach Depot Street in Christiansbug to reach the Christiansburg Depot.)
1857	The first permanent station was built at the north end of Main Street (on the site, more or less, of the "new masonry depot built in 1906). The 1906 depot is currently being used as the "maintenance of ways" office for the district.
1864	The first depot, plus commissary buildings and a recreation hall, were burned by Union troops under the leadership of Brigadier General William W. Averell. According to an account from D.M. Barnes, Special Correspondent for the New York Times (Published 6/10/1864, document #80295664), Averill's troops forded the New River and struck the depot at Christiansburg (see image to the right) For more information on Montgomery County during the Civil War, visit the Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center on Pepper Street in Christiansburg.
1868 to 1870	The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad constructed the new depot as part of the rebuilding ofthe railroad under the leadership of its new president, General William Mahone. During this period, Mahone consolidated the Virginia and Tennesse with several other roads, forming the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Ohio Railroad.
1873	The Bangs Post Office (original name of Cambria) opened near the depot. The Christiansburg Depot, in addition to providing passenger and freight service for Montgomery and Floyd Counties, also served as the transfer point for the resort at Yellow Sulphur Springs, six miles to the northwest.
1876	The A.M.&O. Railroad went into receivership. Purchasers of the railroad in 1881 renamed the railroad Norfolk and Western.
1882	In July, a duel was fought near the depot by J. Stuart Crockett of Wythville and John S. Wise of Richmond. Both combatants arrived by rail with their seconds, having selected Bangs (Cambria) as a convenient middle point between their respectibve places of residence. The duel, resulting in no injuries, was fought a short distance up Yellow Sulphur Springs Road (now Cambria Street). The duel was Wise's last and led to his much publicized decision to fight no more duels (an example which was instrumental in ending the practice in Virginia). Read more about the Wise-Crockett Duel: JOHN S. WISE WILL NOT FIGHT.; A SPICY LETTER IN REPLY TO EDITOR M'CARTY'S COMMENTS (New York Times, March 8, 1884)
1885	The community took the name of Ronald in honor of a local Confederate hero, Captain Charles A. Ronald, the leader of the Montgomery Highlanders ( Company E of the 4th Virginia Militia).
1892	The community changed the name from Ronald to Cambria.
1906	The Town of Cambria was officially incorporated. In the same year, the new masonary passenger station was erected at the site 400 yards east of the original station and the old depot was converted for use solely as a freight station. The conversion of the building as a freight facility resulted in several significant alterations to its structure. The freight section was cut away from the passenger section and raised 25 inches, creating the existing short gable on the west end of the freight room. A problem with rot under the front section (waiting rooms) was solved by cutting 25 inches off the entire bottom of the passenger rooms (look at the height of the chair rail when you visit the Cambria Toy Station). An additional thirty feet of freight room was added to the east end of the building, and the original slate roof was replaced by a standing seam tin roof.
	Cambria, 1913
	Cambria, 1920
1960	The Christiansburg Station (Cambria Depot) was retired from service by the railroad and ownership subsequently shifted to Cash Lumber Co. and later to Mitchell Sales.
1964	Cambria was annexed by Christiansburg. While it officially became known as North Christiansburg, it unofficially continued to be referred to and is still referred to as Cambria.
	Cambria in Decline, 1972
	Depot Versus Train, 1981 The eastern end of the freight section of the Cambria Depot (the Christiansburg Station's popular name) was demolished by two box cars from the stub siding behind the building. In one sense one could attribute the actual restoration of the original depot building to this mishap for the section destroyed was the thirty feet added in 1906!
	Under the Raze Order. 1983 The Christianburg (Cambria) Depot was acquired by Helen and James Dorsett for the purpose of its rehabilitation and restoration as an historic structure and a useful building in the life of the Cambria community.
1983-1985 Lessons in Preservation
1984	Rehabiliation work began in January. While all of the basic structural work was completed during the first year of rehabilitation, much remained to be accomplished before the project was finished. Part of the remaining work involved rehabilitating the community's view of the depot (especially given the predominant view that the building should have been razed and turned into a parking lot). Dorsett Publications relocated to the Depot in the late summer of 1984.
1985	The Christiansburg Depot was placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register on April 16th and was endorsed by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. The Depot entered the National Register of Historic Places in December, 1985.
1991	The Cambria Historic District enters the National Register of Historic Places, as does the East Main Historic District and the South Franklin Historic District.
2004	Community Housing Partners renovates the Dew Drop Inn, the "third leg" of the commercial center of Cambria. The Dew Drop Inn welcomes two new businesses: Embroidery Etcetera and the Tech Express.
2006	Amelia's Italian Restaurant and the Chocolate Spike open their doors in the Cambria commercial district.
2007	Cambria celebrates 150 year birthday. Dorsett Publications opens the Cambria Toy Station in the trackside waiting room.
2008	Following the approval of a town house development within the boundaries of the Cambria Historic District, the Christiansburg Town Council and Planning Commission begin discussing a possible historic district overlay ordinance to help protect the Town's historic resources.
2009	Cambria Depot Museum opens on Labor Day.

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1983-1985 Lessons in Preservation