It is fortunate that one of the old railroad depots remains as the showpiece of an era gone by to help us collect, archive and display the historic gems of the past. Below are pictured the two Callahan depots that stood side by side from the early 1880s until the original passenger Florida Railroad depot on the left burned about 1917. The two railroads collaborated by doubling the size of the elevated freight depot on the right, adding a clerk's office and ticket sales windows and passenger waiting rooms for white and colored on the far end. It is this building that remains as the headquarters of the West Nassau Historical Society and West Nassau Museum of History.
A Florida Nonprofit 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization
Located Inside the Historic Train Depot at 45383 Dixie Avenue, Callahan
Mail to P.O. Box 1758, Callahan, FL 32011 (904-879-3406)
Proud members of Nassau County Chamber of Commerce
and Arts and Culture Nassau
Collection of WNHS
Looking northeast with Brandies Avenue to the left and Dixie Avenue to the right. Circa 1880-1890s.
Abner McGehee
This page was last updated: September 23, 2024
The historic Callahan Train Depot
Copyright 2014-2024 WNHS
The depot sat in this, its second location, for generations. This is the southeast corner of the intersection of CSX's north-south double track and the old Florida Railroad line that went in front of Brandies Hardware. In the 1980s, it was acquired by the historical society and underwent a $100K renovation. This end of the depot was built in 1881 of Victorian architecture. The lower opposite end was built circa 1910 and became the passenger waiting rooms and agent's office.
Before Restoration
2024-2025 Officers
President: John Hendricks
Vice-President: Jerry Peterson
Treasurer: Emily Baumgartner
Secretary: Kim Hoffecker
2024-2025
Board of Directors
West Nassau Historical Society
2023-2024
Emily Baumgartner
Linda Conley
Tracy Connors PhD
John Hendricks
Janet Homann
Kim Hoffecker
Jerry Peterson
Marge Powell
Jeanne Scott
Elton Steptoe
Collection of WNHS
SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE SUSTAINING MEMBERS
CORPORATE MEMBERS
Amanda Ream, Editor
Nassau County Record 904 879 2727
Golden Spike Level
Florida Power and Light
CSX Transportation
Okefenoke Rural Electric Co-op Foundation
First Baptist Church of Callahan
Town of Callahan
Rayonier
WestRock
Silver Spike Level
Bob Eubanks - Rusty Acres
Anchor Church
Schwend Insurance
AA Bottle Gas and Fuel
Brandies Ace Hardware
West Fraser. Inc.
Arts and Culture Nassau
Bronze Spike Level
Davis Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram
Vystar Credit Union
Southeastern Bank
General Meetings
4th Thursdays of each month
at the historic Callahan Train Depot
6:30 pm meal
7:00 pm meeting
Admission is free and open
to public but donations
are gladly accepted
WELCOME
The West Nassau Historical Society is an all-volunteer 501c3.
To donate to our group, call us today: 904 879-3406
We welcome you to our Internet site and hope to introduce you to what we have to offer at our historic Callahan depot headquarters and museum within the depot. We are in our 43rd year of caring about the future of our past. We are an all-volunteer organization looking for like-minded individuals and businesses who share our interests. Download a membership application below and join us in celebrating and preserving our rich and diverse history. Though we are located at the historic Callahan Train Depot in the heart of western Nassau County, we like our colleagues from the Yulee Historic Council and Amelia Island Museum of History, are interested in ALL of our county's history. However, our primary focus is on the western half of the county: from the banks of the tea-colored St. Marys River to Thomas Creek, from the towns of Bryceville, Boulougne, Callahan, and Hilliard to the ghost towns of Italia, Dyal, Crawford, and Gross and the vast timberlands that lay in between.
The historical society's theme is aimed at the history of the railroad which opened up the interior of Nassau County and much of the rest of the wilderness of the south and west. David Yulee's Florida Railroad began at new Fernandina, was finished through central Nassau County by mid-1856 and completed to Cedar Key by 1861. Veterans Appreciation
Saturday, November 16
Our annual Hobo, Tractors and Heroes Festival and Veterans Appreciation Day is scheduled for Saturday, November 16.
Hobo Day is a one-day event with arts/crafts hours set from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, Nov 16.
The site for our 8th Annual Hobo, Tractors and Heroes Festival will be the Callahan Pavilion. We will also honor our veterans during the festivities.
There will also be live entertainment, food and arts/crafts vendors, exhibits and displays centered around the 143-year-old wooden train station.
The Tractor and Antique machine show will be on the rail bed.
The Kids area (backstage of the Deport), will be hosted by Joel Pace Piano and Music.
It is an outdoor event. No electricity will be available. Vendors must supply their own tents, tables, etc.
The West Nassau Historical Society is an all-volunteer non profit hosting our 8th Hobo Day and we do appreciate the support we get from our arts/crafts vendors!
This is our annual autumn event designed to raise much-needed funds to promote our county's rich history and culture and to maintain and preserve the 1881 Callahan train station.
HOW MUCH PULL YOU HAVE...
Seeking Tractors & Antique Farm Machines
The West Nassau Historical Society is seeking tractors and antique farm machines to display at their Hobos and Heroes Festival, Tractor Show and Veterans Appreciation.
If you have an antique tractor or farm machine that you want to display, for more information on Hobo Day or our group, visit our website at http://www.wnhsfl.org, call 904-879-3406 or like our Facebook page.
Upcoming Events
WNHS General Meeting
Thursday, Sept 26, Callahan Train Depot, Meal at 6:30pm and meeting at 7pm.
Brief discussion on upcoming projects. Guest Speaker: Marge Powell on the UK steam engines.
Hilliard Fall Festival
Saturday, Sept 28. We will have a table or two set up at the Hilliard Fall Festival, 12n-5pm
Evening of Discovery Ice Cream Social
Friday, Oct 4, Evening of Discovery Ice Cream Social, with Joel Pace Piano music students performing, 6:30p-8p, lots of ice cream and fixins'.
NE Florida Fair
Thursday Oct 10-Saturday, Oct 19, at the NE Florida Fairgrounds, various days and times, We will have our Trains and Turpentine display set up at the fair. More details to follow.
WNHS General Meeting
Thursday, Oct 24, Callahan Train Depot, Meal at 6:30pm and meeting at 7pm. Brief discussion on upcoming projects. Guest Speaker: Peter Mullen on the History of Halloween.
Saturday, November 16, 9 am - 4 pm
8th Hobo Day Festival, Tractor Show and Veterans Appreciation.
Saturday, December 7
Parade 11 am and Craft Fair 9 am - 3pm. The West Nassau Historical Society will host the 51st Callahan Christmas Parade and Craft Fair.
Thursday-Saturday January 23-25, 2025
13 Annual Nassau Art at the Callahan Depot (NACD)
Art Show and sale for three days. FREE and open to the public.
To Volunteer for any of the West Nassau Historical Society events or activities,
Or,
To Donate to the Society as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, contact Emily or John at (904-879-3406).
West Nassau Historical Society Thanks these Dedicated Supporters...
September 2024
Important News and Updates about...
Smithsonian Institute Exhibit...
Dues...
Ice Cream Social
NE Florida Fair
Ho Ho Hobo Day
Owning/Wearing History...
UPCOMING EVENTS...
51st Annual
Callahan Christmas Parade and Craft Festival
December 7
Ho!-Ho! Ho-ld on a minute!
Can you believe it is that time of year to start planning for the 51st annual Callahan Christmas Parade and Craft Festival?!!?
Bad news?
There are only 93 shopping days left until Christmas.
Good news?
We've had the lights hanging on our large outdoor Christmas tree since last November, so one less thing to do.
This year's parade and craft fair is again being hosted by the West Nassau Historical Society, an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to the discovery of the rich adverse history and culture of Nassau County, especially the western half of our county. We are also entrusted with the maintenance and upkeep of the 1881 Callahan Train Depot.
Parade info is coming soon but check out the Christmas Craft Fair arts/craft vendor info if you are interested in becoming a vendor.
13th Annual Nassau Art at the Callahan Depot (NACD)
The West Nassau Historical Society is proud to sponsor the 13th Annual Nassau Art at the Callahan Depot (NACD) art show and sale, January 23-25, 2025, a three-day visual feast prepared by local artists.
