Discover Madison, Inc. held its long-awaited ground breaking ceremony for the Amqui Station Train Depot on the morning of Friday, April 11.  Despite the heavy rains, many people came out in support of Madison's latest achievement.  This project is a huge undertaking, and it has taken the help of many people to get Amqui Station to this point.  Those who were honored with shovels included Nathan Massey of Massey Electric, Bill Beck of Beck & Beck Attorneys, Senator Joe Haynes, Representative Gary Moore, Congressman Jim Cooper, Councilman Jim Forkum, Councilman Michael Craddock, Councilman Rip Ryman, J.D. Elliott of the Memorial Foundation, Nikki Chadwell representing Danny Hale of Halo Properties, and Ray Hagewood of H & H Construction Associates.  Other ceremony attendees who were instrumental at the inception of the Amqui Station Project included Eddie Roberson of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, Councilman Buck Dozier, and Terry Burnett of Skyline Madison Campus who has donated memorabilia and photos from when her father worked at the Amqui Station Depot.  Dignitaries and guests received an engraved gold railroad spike as a memento to mark this historic occasion.                                                                                                                    .

In May of 2006 Amqui Station, Madison's original train depot which was built in 1910, was moved back home to Madison from its temporary home in Hendersonville, TN.  When the depot was threatened with the prospect of being demolished in 1978, singer Johnny Cash bought the depot and had it relocated next to his House of Cash on Main Street in Hendersonville.  At this location it served as a home for Rail Road memorabilia and, later, as an antique store.  When Johnny Cash died in 2003, Halo Properties purchased the depot and donated it back to the city of Madison, provided Madison could cover the cost of the moving.  

Since the move, Discover Madison Inc. has been working diligently to raise funds to restore the old depot and to have it reset on a new foundation next to the Madison Station Senior Center on Madison Street.  This ground-breaking has been eagerly anticipated, and Discover Madison, Inc. is very pleased to announce this major accomplishment.  Discover Madison, Inc. would like to thank all of its board members for their dedication to this project.  Board Members include Nathan Massey, Carson Wm. Beck, Ray Tate, Sandi Richardson, Tammy Daniel, Councilman Jim Forkum, David Currey, Larry Odom, Phyllis Williams, and Sylvia Spencer.  Also very instrumental in this project is former board member Mark North.  Discover Madison, Inc. would also like to thank Miller's Florist, Cathy Hoorman of Kickin' Coffee and Tea, Todd Hunley of Chik-Fil-A, Mack McGaugh of Shipley's Donuts, Lori Corley of the Madison Station Senior Center, Sandi Richardson, and Sid Durham of the Madison Funeral Home who helped make this ceremony a great success.