What To Do With The Caboose?

By
MARY ANN ANDERSON
The iconic caboose at the corner of South Williams and Latimer streets may soon see a new home. In the March meeting of the City Council, local businessman and developer Robyn Williams asked that the caboose be moved to property he owns on Railroad Street so that he could repair and enhance its aesthetics. During Thursday’s meeting, he asked again for approval, stating, “You’ve had a month to think about it.”
Ward 1 Councilman Dywane Johnson vehemently opposed the move, saying, “Downtown Hazlehurst should stay where it is. It should not be moved … It’s public property, and public property shouldn’t be bounced around like toys.”
Johnson also said that it should be left to the Downtown Development Authority to apply for streetscape grants to repair and refurbish the caboose, and that the public should also be allowed to give its input. Ward 3’s Diane Leggett agreed with Johnson.
But Ward 2’s John Ramay stated that he disagreed, saying that the caboose is a liability because of its decking that is in complete disrepair and that homeless people have also been using at night. He noted, too, that he’s in favor of moving it to give Impact Church, which is adjacent to the caboose and housed in the old Crystal Palace building across from the old City Hall, room for more parking.
Mayor Bayne Stone countered Johnson, too, by saying that the caboose should be put in a more appropriate position by the railroad track, adding that it would be a more convenient location.
“It’s ragged and in the wrong place,” the mayor said.
“I see where Diane and Dywane are coming from” chimed in Ward 4’s John Bloodworth. “My only problem is that it’s going to private property … I think you’re making a mistake putting public property on private property.”
City Clerk Vernice Thompson then stated that she had received a letter from the church because of city patrons parking next to the church and taking up parking spaces. She said that there is “friction between business owners and the church.” Thompson also noted that the city’s insurance agent had told her that the deteriorating porch is also the “biggest liability” to the city in case someone gets hurt on it.
That’s when Williams told the council that the original late 1800s railroad turnstile is within 50 feet of where he wants to move the caboose, so it would be a historical move as well. He plans to place the caboose in the middle of his lot, add restrooms and lighting and also make park benches out of the existing wheels, adding, “It will look ten times better than it does now.”
Williams also noted that it will take about $3,000 to move it, with the cost to be evenly split among him, Andy Ramay and Impact Church.
If all of that happens, though, the city would have to sell the caboose to Williams. Stone asked Williams to give the city a “little more time” to work out the details, but in the closed session on Thursday, the council returned to regular session with the unanimous motion for City Attorney Ken W. Smith to move forward on selling the caboose.