Dayton Station one step closer to restoration

The Dayton Station, where the Carson & Colorado train used to stop in Dayton, may yet become a place where visitors can learn about the historic community and where the area's interests can be promoted.

For the station to be restored, the Lyon County Board of Commissioners must approve an agreement with the Nevada Department of Transportation to obtain a $560,000 grant to purchase and manage the old depot. The county will have to come up with $29,474 in matching funds.

"It's something we never intended to do this way, but I don't have a problem with it," said Bob Milz, chairman of the board of commissioners. "They've (NDOT) never done it this way before. We just have to come up with the money. It's something we have to do."

The plan hatched in 2003, when developer Jim Bawden of Landmark Homes bought the station for use by the Dayton Historical Society and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, was to turn the property into a park-like visitors center, similar to the Nevada Railroad Museum property. Bawden spent $450,000 to hold the building until the society and the chamber could acquire it.

"The whole idea was to refurbish that station once we own it," said Milz. "We're going to make that the gateway to Old Town Dayton and then we can refurbish Old Town."

Bawden bought the depot from William Boyd Mitchell, trustee of the Mitchell family estate, who inherited it from Helen Barton when she died in the mid-1990s. She purchased it in 1955.

NDOT has approved a grant to Lyon County to purchase the property, but the county commissioners must approve the cooperative stewardship agreement that directs the county to design, plan, award contracts and purchase and inspect the property for the Dayton Station Enhancement Project.

The original plan was for Bawden to rent the building to the Dayton Chamber of Commerce for $1 per year for a visitors center and office, but the chamber and historical society needed the grant to move forward.

-- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If you go

WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington

CALL: (775) 463-6531