The Greensboro Depot

BY CAROLYN DRINKARD

In 2013, Marla and Laird Cole bought the Johnson-Torbert House, a bed-and-breakfast in Greensboro. Marla loved antiques, so she immediately started “picking” furniture for the home. Soon, Laird joined her on these trips, and before long, both realized that they needed a place to store all their treasures.

Marla and Laird Cole live in Newbern, Alabama. A realtor in Tuscaloosa, Laird is also an auctioneer. He, too, was searching for a location to hold his sales.

In 2017, Marla and Laird looked at the old Greensboro Depot, a 33,000-square-foot brick warehouse, built in 1901 to store cotton bales.

“I was overwhelmed when I first saw the Depot,” Marla explained. “It had no electrical lines, no phone lines. It was just a huge old building.”

Vacant for 30 years, the building needed major repairs. Fortunately, the Coles envisioned this warehouse becoming a community hub where Marla could sell her antiques, Laird could hold his auctions and farmers, artisans and craftsmen could display their wares.

The Greensboro Depot was originally used to store bales of cotton until the railroad could load them onto rail cars and ship them across the country. After a major fire extensively damaged the building, James A. Blunt, a local banker, rebuilt the cotton warehouse in 1907. Blunt improved the overall functionality of the building by adding architectural features. For the next 75 years, the warehouse was used to store cotton, peanuts, feed, grain and oil products. During this time, it became a major economic center for Greensboro, as the community depended on the mass amounts of commodities, equipment and food products that the railroad loaded and unloaded at the Depot.

In the ‘80s, the local cotton gin closed, and the railroad canceled services to Greensboro. After this, the cotton warehouse sat vacant, deteriorating from a lack of use.

In 2017, Laird and Marla Cole purchased the warehouse. Their desire was to renovate the building, while keeping it as close to the original as possible. The Coles have now completed three of the four inside bays with Laird doing all the electrical and plumbing work himself.

While working inside the Depot, the Coles discovered a treasure trove of historical artifacts and memorabilia. Some such as cotton dollies and scales are now on display in the newly refurbished building. The Coles also found antique cotton bales, believed to be from the pre-1930s. These bales are now displayed inside the Depot, along with cotton bags donated by a family member.

Another interesting discovery was a set of massive doors that once stood at Southern University. Founded in Greensboro in 1856, Southern was one of the oldest universities in Alabama. It was destroyed by a tornado in 1973. Many of the recovered artifacts were stored in the Greensboro Depot. The Coles found the doors, as well as other architectural details. The Southern University doors now stand in the front bay welcome center for all to see. Marla and Cole also found old ledgers and receipt tickets showing names of various Hale County families, who had once sold cotton there. The Coles hope to collect as many pictures and stories from these times as possible to preserve the history of the Depot.

In the auction bay, the Coles chose to restore the original wood plank flooring. Here, Laird holds an auction on the first Saturday of each month, as well as numerous estate sales. Customers bring antiques, tools, furniture and collectibles to sell.

The third bay is the vendor market, which opens every Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Coles kept the concrete floors in this area, filling it with antique and historical period pieces to delight shoppers. After purchasing the Greensboro Farmers Market, Marla and Laird moved it to the warehouse. Farmers now rent booths and sell local vegetables, meats, cheeses and honey. The bay holds 40 regular vendors, including popular area artisans, like Miller’s Pottery, Jamie Plaxo and the Reclaimed Handyman.

Since the complex opened, Marla has held special events aimed at bringing the community together at the Depot. Her goal is to have three major shows each year. In November, the Coles hosted “Falling of the Leaves.” Besides various crafts people, the event featured an antique car and tractor show. In February, they held a Mardi Gras-themed celebration before Fat Tuesday, with music, king cakes and crawfish to spice up the festivities. Around May Day, Marla is planning a spring garden event.

“The Coles have done a great job restoring this beautiful old building and making it a local business and fun place to go,” said Pam Hamilton of Eutaw. A regular visitor, Hamilton and friends make day trips to the Depot to attend the auction and shop in the vintage market.

In 2021, Marla and Laird hope to restore the fourth bay, as well as the cotton gin house, which they recently acquired and added back to the original property. Both have agricultural backgrounds, and they want the Greensboro Depot to be instrumental in helping others understand what farmers really do. They also want visitors to appreciate West Alabama’s history, architecture and charm.

“There are so many treasures in West Alabama,” Marla explained. “We have beautiful farms, good people, good food and so much more! Laird and I wanted to work on things unique to West Alabama and bring them to the Greensboro Depot for everyone to enjoy!”

The Greensboro Depot opens each Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering antiques, architectural salvage and a vendor market. Located at 2350 Jones Street in Greensboro, the Greensboro Depot is also on Facebook and online at www.greensborodepot.com. Call 335-352-5271 for more information.

Each Fall on the second Saturday in November, the Coles host the “Falling of the Leaves.” They hold antiques and crafts shows, along with an antique car and tractor show.