Blue Ridge in Fannin County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Original L.N. Railroad Co. Depot

Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

1. Original L. N. Railroad Co. Depot Marker

Inscription.
Original L.N. Railroad Co. Depot
built 1905 restored and placed on
Historical Register 1983
Dedication 1983

Mayor
N.L. Prather
Councilpersons
John D. Poston, V.M.
Buford P. Walker
Ivan Setser
Willa Haight
Jimmy Hopkins
1980-1983

Erected 1983.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 34° 51.928′ N, 84° 19.488′ W. Marker is in Blue Ridge, Georgia, in Fannin County. It is at the intersection of Depot Street and Roberts Way, on the right when traveling west on Depot Street. The marker is on the south side of the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad Depot near the center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 241 Depot St, Blue Ridge GA 30513, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bill Allen (here, next to this marker); Blue Ridge Park (within shouting distance of this marker); William Clayton Fain: Georgia Unionist (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fannin County War Memorial (about 300 feet away); PFC. Jack Clem Robinson (about 500 feet away); Fannin County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fannin County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Madden Branch Massacre (approx. 8.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Ridge.

Regarding Original L.N. Railroad Co. Depot. Excerpts from the Blue Ridge Depot Nomination Form:

The Blue Ridge Depot is historically significant in the areas of architecture and transportation. Architecturally it is significant because it represents a good example of an early 20th Century depot designed and built to
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

2. Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad Depot. Marker is between the sets of trees.
serve its essential functions. It retains most of its major elements of design, material and workmanship. In transportation history it is significant because it symbolizes the effect that the advent of the railroad had on the life of an existing small settlement in north Georgia. The railroad brought an influx of Northern visitors seeking health cures at the local mineral springs and this growth resulted in Blue Ridge becoming the county seat...

Railroad transportation came to this area in the form of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad when it built a route in 1890 to the small town of Blue Ridge. This was part of the Atlanta to Knoxville, Tennessee route and resulted in an influx of visitors to the mineral springs as well as more county business. This caused the county seat to be moved here in 1895. The population rose from 264 in 1890 to 1,184 in 1900. Much of the new population was employed in the railroad shops until they were moved in 1906. The original, earlier depot burned and this one, built in 1906, continued in the same important role to the community, serving as the town's only depot. Passenger service ended in 1951,
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 10, 2025

3. Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad Depot, originally built for L.N. (Louisville Nashville) )Railroad Co.
as it has almost everywhere else in Georgia. The railroad is currently leased to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad of the Family Lines System and continues freight service to Blue Ridge, although this depot is no longer used.

Also see . . .
1. Blue Ridge Depot Nomination Form (pdf). Form prepared by Kenneth H. Thomas Jr., Historian, Historic Preservation Section, Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta, 1982 (Submitted on May 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

2. The History of Our Train. Follow the timeline on the page for the history of the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad (Submitted on May 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.