Saturday, January 05, 2008; Posted: 08:25 AM
"That's pretty good," said Friends of the Aiken Depot Co-founder Owen Sheetz. "One and a half million dollars is a lot of money."
In actuality, the total raised with the public campaign now stands at $1,517,000. The goal was accomplished with the help of First Citizens Bank when Aiken area Market Executive Marsh Burckhalter pledged $15,000.
The financial institution will donate $3,000 per year over the next five years.
It has been estimated the entire rebuild project will cost $3 million.
"We are proud to be a part of this great effort to restore this legacy of Aiken's historic past and to make it a part of Aiken's future," Burckhalter said.
An additional $14,000 had arrived Friday morning from other donors.
"We're excited to be halfway there," said All Aboard! Chairman Tim Simmons. "We're excited First Citizens sees the value of this project and is contributing to it."
Simmons, Friends of the Aiken Depot Co-founders Mac McClearen and Sheetz and Aiken Corporation Chairman Wade Brodie were on hand to accept the first check from Burckhalter.
The three vintage railcars that sit on Union Street are currently being restored -- two will be refurbished as dining cars and the third, a caboose, will be restored to its original condition. That work is expected to be finished by midsummer, Brodie said.
Construction of the Depot itself, which will include a hands-on history museum, is expected to begin in the spring.
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