Railroad depot dismantled, to be relocated for new Plain City public square

PLAIN CITY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Construction crews have begun dismantling a historic central Ohio railroad depot that will be relocated as part of a new public square development featuring a park and a marketplace.

The interior of the Upper Arlington depot is being disassembled ahead of the structure's shipment this summer to Plain City, the village said in an update posted this month. While an exact opening date has yet to be announced, Plain City is anticipating the depot will begin welcoming guests as the first phase of the larger town square project in late fall or early winter.

Officials said elements of the depot, such as the flooring, walls, windows and doors, will be preserved and reincorporated, while surplus furnishing will be auctioned at a later date. The brick patio encircling the depot has also been dismantled and transported to Plain City, where it will be reinstalled following the reconstruction of the depot, the village noted.

Site preparation at the new Plain City location is also underway, the village noted. Crews have removed fencing and will soon begin site leveling to allow the construction of a new foundation and the installation of utilities.

Once installed, the depot will provide space for events, visitor amenities, commercial ventures and historical displays. Future phases of the public square will include a park with a railroad-themed play area, splash pad, seating and fire pit, trailhead and green space for outdoor community events. The village will also repurpose an existing building into a marketplace that will provide all-season event and vendor space for a year-round farmers market.

"A goal of staff and council is to create unique gathering spaces in our Uptown district that complement our local businesses and landmarks of Plain City," village administrator Haley Lupton said. "I'm eager to see the addition of the Public Square project come to life and help round out our uptown amenities."

Positioned at the corner of East Bigelow Avenue and Church Street, the development pays homage to historical maps from 1862 to 1875 that also referred to the property as the public square. The site was home to the original Plain City town hall, fire department, school and other early community buildings.

Plain City purchased the 1,473-square-foot depot from the Fromm family, who restored the historic structure after acquiring it in 2004. Many of the original depot components were retained, including the original wooden walls and ceilings, while others were salvaged from other historical structures.

"The vision for the depot and Public Square brings excitement to our town and solidifies a place to gather as a community for many years to come," Mayor Jody Carney said.