FELLSMERE — The Fellsmere City Council Thursday evening decided to move forward with plans to apply for a $50,000 grant that would be used to relocate and rehabilitate the lone Fellsmere Railroad structure still standing.
City Manager Jason Nunemaker said he is “fairly optimistic” the City will be awarded the grant, which will require a match from the City, to protect the Fellsmere Railroad Section Foreman’s house.
The building was constructed as a duplex and remains so today where it stands north of the Broadway-S. Carolina intersection. It is the oldest structure in the city, having been built in 1910, according to Fellsmere historian Rich Votapka.
Votapka presented to Council several hand-made models of Fellsmere Railroad buildings, including the section foreman’s home, laid out similarly to how the buildings originally stood.
Indian River County resident Nat Huggins, a model enthusiast, crafted the miniature buildings.
If the City receives the grant, Nunemaker said the plan would be to relocate the section foreman’s home to the north side of S. Carolina Avenue, between Broadway and Babcock Street.
Community Development Director Mark Mathes said that, looking long-term, the City could pursue recreating a railroad village between Broadway and Babcock on the north side of S. Carolina, near and around the planned 5-acre lake that is part of a proposed assisted living facility.
Nunemaker said after the meeting that there have been discussions with the developer, who seems to be supportive of the potential endeavor.
Mathes envisions recreating the Oil House, the Car Shed, the Machine Shop, the Freight House, the Blacksmith shop, and the Fellsmere Jail.
The Car Shed – a building more than 100 feet long and 16 feet wide – could be situated atop the Rails-to-Trails path, making for a covered portion of path that could perhaps house some information about Fellsmere’s rail.
It would “be a heck of a dance hall, too,” Fellsmere Councilwoman Sara Savage quipped.
While the endeavor is years off, Votapka, Huggins and others are working to create a scaled diorama of the Fellsmere Railroad buildings that would be encased and put on display in City Hall.
