Riding the rails

Posted on June 14, 2013

By MARK VIOLA / Staff writer

Prologue: A Man and His Trains

Long before Historical Perry Station became a business incubator and home to several up-and-coming local establishments, before it was a target for restoration by the city and other organizations, before the building itself had fallen into disrepair and neglect, the train depot was not only a major hub of the local economy but the region’s as well.

At one time, it was even predicted that Perry would someday become the Jacksonville of Florida’s west coast, sporting rail lines diverging in all directions, bearing people and freight to countless destinations.

PHOTO: Russell Tedder, 78, donated four historically-accurate train models to the city which are now on display in Java Depot at the Historic Perry Station.

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