Discover Madison and Amqui Station

301 Madison St.

Madison, TN 37115

615-865-5400

DMI Board Members

Nathan Massey

Carson Wm. Beck

Ray Tate

Sandi Richardson Tammy Daniel

Jim Forkum

David Currey

Larry Odom

Phyllis Williams

Sylvia Spencer

Amqui Station Celebrates Groundbreaking

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.

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. 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.

Discover Madison Receives $75,000 Grant!

Senator Joe Haynes, Representative Gary Moore and Representative Mike Turner (who was unable to be present) presented the Discover Madison Board Chairman, Nathan Massey, with a $75,000 Community Enhancement Grant for the development of Amqui Station on January 17.

This brings our total amount raised for the restoration of Amqui Station to over $693,000!

The process to get Amqui Station on its foundation is moving forward. The land for the Station was recently cleared of trees. Now the land has to be prepared for water and electricity.

Funds are still needed to bring this historic property back to its heyday in Madison. If you would like to contribute to this fund, see the form below.

What is Amqui Station?
Train depots disappeared from our historic architectural landscape far too quickly in the 1900s.

Often, they were lost because of 'progress.'

At least, that's what happened to the Amqui Station.

Built in 1910, this little train depot was established as a switching station located at the junction of Louisville and Nashville (L&N) railroad lines stretching from the north and northeast.

It had a name like no other. Some say that 'Amqui' was an Indian word that meant 'parting of the ways.' Popular lore has it that 'Amqui' was a contraction of 'd--- quick' in reference to how long it took to travel from the junction to 12th Avenue South in Nashville or to how quickly a train could get going again after stopping at the Madison station.

No matter what the origin, the Amqui Station became known as much for its unique moniker as for its switching function.

The Amqui Station train depot had an unusual two-story design.

The second story housed a control room, more commonly known as a switch room, while the ground floor was comprised of a waiting room.

During its busiest days, Amqui Station saw as many as 40 or 50 trains pass through, many 100 cars in length, some 200 cars or more than a mile long.

The demanding job of switching north- and south-bound trains 24 hours a day required that the lever men operate in three shifts, first via telegraph, then through various telephone lines and railroad communication systems, always staying in continuous contact with trainmen and operators up and down the line.

In order to deliver orders to passing trains, the operator stood by the track, holding a long Y-arm with orders attached, while the conductor, train in motion, reached down and scooped up the papers.

Everything considered, it was a very 'cool' operation, and one that continued for many, many years!

Until, in 1978, when everything changed!

In a move to modernize the switching and signal gear, the L & N System vacated the Amqui Station.

The railway system offered the deteriorating depot to anyone who would pay moving costs.

That 'anyone' was none other than country superstar, Johnny Cash!

Cash, who was a train buff, paid W. P. Camp & Sons, structural movers based in Inglewood, TN, $25,000 to relocate the old depot next to the House of Cash in Hendersonville, TN.

He used it first to display his railroad memorabilia, then June Carter Cash called it into service as an antique shop for treasures she had collected throughout her years of international travel.

When Johnny Cash died in 2003, a group called Halo Properties purchased the Amqui Station and offered to donate it back to Madison if funds in the amount of $35,000 could be raised to have it moved back home.

They were, and we did...and the Amqui Station was relocated once again to an area near where it had originally resided.

Now, many of Madison's community leaders and long-time residents view the Amqui Station as a way to 'lay new tracks' toward rebuilding a strong sense of hometown pride.

The past years have been ones of tremendous growth and change in Madison. Yet, through all the transformation and modernization, our community has been able to maintain its 'small town' atmosphere.

But, there is still much to done if we, as a united community, want to build a future that honors the past and allows us to continue to establish a sense of orientation.

To serve as a 'conductor' for this revitalization project, an association named Discover Madison, Inc., has been established as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Discover Madison, Inc., has already succeeded in having the Amqui Station moved back to a temporary spot.

The next phases include placing it on a permanent foundation then restoring it to the way it looked in the mid- 1900s.

As a viable historic building and an important element in the flow of our culture, a return of the train depot to its 'glory days' will help Madison:

	Maintain Identity
	Educate People About The Past
	Provide An Economic Tool For Planners And Governments
	Create Dialogues And Shared Values

Our dream is that the landscaping of the station can be expanded to include a park area to encourage:

* Picnicking
* Outdoor Concerts
* Bluegrass And Other Musical Festivals
* Theatre Events
* Artisans Festivals
* Other Special Events

WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS COME TRUE!

Join the Amqui Crew!

Contribute to the recovery of a treasured part of Madison's heritage that was lost for over two decades but is now being revived through the combined efforts of folks just like you!

Simply sign on to be a:

	Trainmaster, $1,000 and above
	Engineer, $500
	Conductor, $250'
	Brakeman, $100
	Switchman, $50
	Flagman, Any Amount!

If you would like more information about our vision for the Amqui Station,
please click on the 'mail to' icon above.
Remember, all contributions are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

Click here to download the Amqui Station Gift-Giving
brochure in its entirety.

CLICK HERE TO
SEE PIX FROM THE CELEBRATION OF AMQUI STATION
FUND RAISING EVENT
ON NOVEMBER 16, 2006!