Red Caboose and Depot Community Center Hub of Pegram  

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Sitting near Pegram’s city park and not far from the railroad tracks that used to run in front of it, the Depot Community Center is the heart of the town of just over 2,000 people. Sitting next to it, the red caboose is a fun reminder of what riding on the rails used to be.

During the last five years, the old depot has been given a fresh coat of paint, the floors lovingly replaced, the plywood removed from the ceiling to showcase 1910 poplar trusses, a native plant and rain garden has been created, and the old kitchen cabinets have been replaced in the fully stocked catering-friendly kitchen. The caboose has also been given a fresh coat of paint. While the facility stood lifeless during much of the last two years due to the pandemic, as of May 2021 it is back open for rental for private parties, prom events, wedding receptions and more.

Originally built in 1898, the whole town once centered around what was happening at the station, and the town was originally named Pegram Station after it. Before trains came through, it was a stagecoach stop between Charlotte and Nashville. The building was taken over by the town as a men’s club in 1954 as a way to preserve and restore the historic structure, there was also a women’s auxiliary that used the building in the later 1950s before the two merged to become the Pegram Community Club.

Old Pegram Depot
photo: Pegram Community Club at the Depot Facebook Page

The red caboose sitting on tracks to one side of the community center is a side bay window model that was used by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) after 1957. It is painted with the signature L&N red with dark yellow letters and numbers. In the past, a caboose brought up the end of a train and it served as both an office for the conductor and as a place to better view potential problems along the track. When the caboose was first introduced to trains, they were made of wood and had a cupola from which to look out. Today the conductor’s job is all done electronically with computers and cameras.

According to waymarking.com, this caboose has become a symbol for the City of Pegram. It was painted by Sue Nichols, a resident of Dickson, Tennessee, whose watercolors are known for capturing Americana like carnivals, fairs and amusement parks. Her art has even been used as set decoration in the Quentin Tarantino film “Deathproof”. She sells both commissioned artwork and custom printed pieces via her website.

photo: waymarking.com

Both the red caboose and the Pegram Community Club are located at the corner of Thompson and Station roads, just off Highway 70 at the CSX crossing. The Club hosts two fundraising events each year, the recent Fish Fry that brought 300 out this year, and a barbecue in July. They also produce an annual calendar composed of photography from their annual photo contest. The calendar is now available at Finch’s Country Store. Funds from these events are used to restore and maintain the building.

It is possible to become a member of the Pegram Community Club. There are family memberships and Senior memberships. Members receive discounts on building rental. No smoking or alcohol are allowed on premises. They will also take donations. While their fundraising has been successful, costs went up more than 50% this year due to rising food costs. To learn more about the organization check out their Facebook page.

 

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