Welcome to the Richmond KY Parks & Recreation GeoTrail (RPGT3). To participate in this GeoTrail and earn your free souvenir for finding at least 25 out of 30+ geocaches available, visit: Richmond KY GeoTrail to obtain your Passport.
This geocache will take you into the heart of “Old Town” Berea and beside the former L&N Train Depot Station to a secluded mini-park. "Old Town" Berea is a reference to the Artisan Village area of Berea that contains working artisan studios. These studios house a wide variety of artisans and artisan shops where you can watch the artisans at work in their craft.
The central focal point of "Old Town" Berea is the former L&N Train Depot that was renovated and currently houses the Berea Welcome Center. In the spring of 1853, local politician Cassius Clay offered land to the Reverend John G. Fee if he would bring his family and settle the area. Fee’s one-room schoolhouse, established in 1855, eventually became Berea College (located just up the hill from this location).
In the early 1870’s, a college committee governing community affairs was looking for ways to open Berea to the outside world. They voted to donate $3,000 to the Kentucky Central Railroad, allowing them to purchase the right of way for a rail line to come through Berea. This was the beginning of Berea’s railroad history.
When the depot was complete, it was the only brick station between Lexington, KY and Knoxville, TN. The availability of the automobile and improved roads quickly led to a decrease in rail traffic. In 1959, the Pullman Sleeper service on the “Flamingo” was discontinued. Coach passenger service continued from Cincinnati to Atlanta. The L&N discontinued passenger train service in March of 1968 and freight service by 1969. The one remaining set of tracks is still an active CSX freight line, with an average of 30 trains passing the station daily.
This Depot is now the only brick depot left standing between Cincinnati, OH and Knoxville, TN. The red brick exterior is accented with stone and brick trim. Raised brick bands frame the openings which emphasize the arches of the main entrance and windows. The long, low overhands of the roof add to the uniqueness of the structure. Another outstanding feature is the wavy red tile roof, with its raised ridges and rounded copper gutters. These elements combine to present a very welcoming exterior, just a prelude to the beauty to be found inside. On the outside of the Depot (north end), there is a garden on the opposite side of the train depot from the cache that was designed by Jon Carloftis, who was originally from Livingston in Rockcastle County, KY (the next county south). Jon became a world renowned garden artist for 30+ years in New York and now calls KY his home once again.