Donation adds to construction fund for depot passenger shelter

President of the Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot Tim Simmons and Aiken City Mayor Fred Cavanaugh accept a check from Pres Rahe, center, that will help pay for the construction of the passenger shelter. Staff photo by Amy Banton.

The Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot certainly received some holiday cheer Tuesday as they were given a donation that will assist with the building of the passenger shelter.

Pres and Jerry Ann Rahe made a donation of an undisclosed amount to the Friends on Tuesday. Pres presented the check to Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot Tim Simmons and Aiken City Mayor Fred Cavanaugh.

Pres Rahe, then-president of Washington Group International's Energy and Environment Group, served as the Leadership Chairman of All Aboard!, according to a press release. That was a fundraising campaign of the Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot which raised approximately $2.3 million for the construction of the depot. The depot opened in September 2010 and serves as the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum. In that time, the facility has attracted several thousand visitors.

Though Rahe did not want to disclose the amount of the donation, Simmons said it was a "significant" amount that will help complete the last real visible piece of the depot which is the construction of the passenger shelter which will face Park Avenue.

"He (Pres Rahe) has been a terrific supporter of this project since the campaign started almost five years ago," Simmons said. "He and his wife Jerry have a record of contributing to all things wonderful whether its education or community improvement, quality of life or whatever there is - they have had a history of doing that and this is just another example."

The passenger shelter is unique to Aiken's railroad depot because it was curved, and was quite unusual and uncommon. The architectural plans for the passenger shelter were supplied by McDonald Law who also provided the plan for the depot, according to the press release.

Pres said that this has been one of his favorite projects in Aiken as he finds it a historical and educational asset to the city in which he hopes will also act as an economic engine to the eastern part of the downtown area.

"It's a pleasure for Jerry Ann and me to make a contribution in order to help finish the passenger shelter which is going to give a very unique and distinct look to the depot," Pres said.

City Manager Richard Pearce, who was at the presentation, said that Stewart Builders should begin construction of the passenger shelter in January. The passenger shelter will cost around $40,000 which was budgeted through local accommodation tax funds, Pearce said.

"We can never undertake projects like this without the support of the community," Pearce said.