Bessemer Freight Depot
The Bessemer Freight Depot is a former railroad depot building, constructed around 1917, on Alabama Avenue off of 18th Street North, a little more than a block southwest of the passenger depot in downtown Bessemer.
Brad Watkins opened The Vintage Station, selling furniture and doors made from reclaimed wood, in the former depot in 2014. The business suffered a fire on March 27, 2017 and Watkins died from a stray gunshot in January 2018.
In March 2021 a nonprofit headed by BLOX founder Chris Giattina acquired the building for $140,000, with financing from Navigate Affordable Housing Partners, and announced an intention to redevelop it as a community facility with funding from various family foundations or grantmaking organizations. Potential partners include Create Birmingham and Shipshape Urban Farms of Mobile.
References
- Posey, Melanie (March 28, 2017) "Fire destroys old train station turned furniture store." WBRC.com
- Van der Bijl, Hanno (March 11, 2021) "BLOX exec buys Bessemer train depot for new community project." Birmingham Business Journal