TOOMSBORO, Ga. — David Bumgardner is the sole owner of more than 30 historic buildings in the Wilkinson County town of Toomsboro. Since he took ownership, the mayor says those buildings have been locked up and allowed to deteriorate.
Toomsboro mayor Joyce Denson says the century-old train depot off Main Street needs some work.
She said when Bumgardner and his son tried to sell all the buildings for $1.7 million and realized it wasn't selling, Denson told them to sell them one at a time. She said some of the buildings near the entrance of the town sold and someone bought the old Willett Hotel last year.
"The man is fixing that up and he said he's going to make that his home," Denson said.
Betty Jean Bell has lived in the town for more than 80 years. She says she likes living here because it's quiet. She says the old train depot was part of her life growing up.
"I have caught the train to go to a little city called Oconee to go to church over there," Bell said.
Both Bell and Denson agree the train deport needs some work. Denson says the roof is caving in and is a health hazard. The building is owned by Norfolk Southern Rail Company. She says she has met with them and they told her she could buy the building and fix it.
"The town can not spend money on building and then try to fix it up. But it may be somebody out there that may want to purchase it themselves," Denson said.
The mayor says the train depot will cost almost $50,000 to purchase. She says that is money the city doesn't have. She hopes someone will buy the train depot and others and turn them into something anyone in the town can use.
"And we can turn it into somewhere nice. It can be an event center, where people can rent it out and use it. And also a museum that we can put some historic facts concerning Toomsboro and the county, Wilkinson County as a whole in as well," Denson said.
Right now, Denson has spoken with the Georgia Department of Transportation's safety coordinator and they have told her they are looking into seeing what they can do to save the building because it is "rotting away."
Denson hoped someone will help bring Toomsboro back to life as Betty Jean Bell remembers.
We have reached out to Tim Bumgardner for comment and they have not gotten back to us.