Groveland takes ownership of historic train depot after nearly 20-year effort

The city of Groveland is taking ownership of its historic downtown train depot, a 101-year-old landmark tied to the city’s railroad past and one of Florida’s most notorious cases of racial injustice.The transfer comes after nearly 20 years of efforts to bring the depot under city ownership. Leaders say it clears the way for restoration and future public use of the building.“You know, there are moments in a community’s life when a building becomes more than brick and mortar,” Groveland Vice Mayor Barbara Gaines said. “It becomes a symbol, a symbol of what we have been, what we have endured, and who we choose to honor.”The depot was privately owned for decades, most recently by the Avalon Group and Carabao International. It once served as a major connector between Sanford and St. Petersburg.For longtime residents, the building remains a reminder of Groveland’s early growth and the role rail travel once played in the community.“When I stepped into it today, it just brought back not specif