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Like
the partners they’ve always been, the Stevenson Depot and the
old Stevenson Hotel building sit together by the tracks, noting
each passing train and recalling the “glory days” of the
railroads. The Stevenson Hotel was built on railroad property by John
F. Anderson, who, along with V. K. Stevenson, founded Stevenson. It was rented by him to various people beginning in 1872
until it was bought in 1901 by E. O. Mann and was operated by him
until he sold it in 1933.
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In
its prime, the Hotel depended on the railroad for its business.
Passenger trains on both lines stopped regularly for their
travelers and crews to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, and rooms
were available for those who had a layover when changing from one
line to another.
The Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum Board purchased the
property in 2001 to save it from sure demolition as it went on the
auction block while housing the Downtown Choo Choo Restaurant, a
favorite local eatery.
The restaurant has since moved and City workers began
renovation of the Hotel in 2004, replacing the floor, refurbishing
a long hidden fireplace, and completing paneling in a second
dining room.
The Board hopes to re-roof and restore the upstairs rooms
to period décor in the future.
The
hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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