The C&S Leadville Freight Depot finds a new life

The Leadville Freight Depot has been standing along the C&S (and now LC&S) tracks for a long time.  In fact, she was close to collapsing.  Recently a company calling itself simply "Freight" restored the entire structure and repurposed it for use as an event space.  According to their website, the former freight house will now be a place for Dances, Film screenings, Fashion Shows, Community Fundraisers, TED-like Talks, Weddings, Anniversaries, Meetings, Corporate Events, Poetry Readings, and Sunset Gazing.


The site lists the following background:
Over its more than century-long history the freight depot had served only two owners: the railroad, and since the 1920s, Smith Lumber Company. It had even been involved in a couple colorful incidents of historical intrigue involving conspiracy and murder on the railroad. Originally, the freight depot was the Front Range’s gateway to Leadville, bringing supplies to its residents and shipping out tons of silver ore from its booming mines.  During the second half of the 20th Century, Smith Lumber used the building to store lumber that arrived by train until 1967, when the railroad closed and by truck until Smith’s closure in 2014.  

I don't know exactly what is being referred to when they say the railroad closed in 1967.  The C&S/CB&Q/BN operated the line until 1981 to my knowledge.

Below is a great video showing the process of restoration and the new owners' vision for the freight depot's future.


The video below is nothing outstanding.  It's just someone riding the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad from the Leadville depot for a few minutes.  I posted it because it shows a nice trackside view of the old C&S freight depot beginning at about :17 before the recent renovation.