Originally constructed at the turn of the century, the depot was sold by the railroad for one dollar and uprooted to the city of Jesup in 1969 for public housing. This public housing plan was never realized, however, and the depot was later moved to the sewage treatment plant for storage. Here it sat neglected for more than thirty years until Jesup donated it back to Odum in 2002. 

The city of Odum applied for and received Local Development Fund and Transportation Enhancement grants for the return and rehabilitation of the depot. The city, its residents and local businesses came up with over $100,000 in matching funds, quite a feat for a city of roughly 400 people. 

Carter Watkins and Associates oversaw the move and the rehabilitation, which encompassed extensive work due to the years of neglect. The well-traveled Odum Depot, now back home, again stands as a tangible reminder of the city’s railroad heritage and a testament to one small town’s determination to reclaim its past. 

Read more about the Odum Depot's Excellence in Rehabilitation Preservation Award