[1/8/03]A $150,000 state grant will help restore the exterior of the Levee Street Depot building bought by Vicksburg from its private owners a year ago.

City officials learned Monday that the Mississippi Department of Archives and History will pay most of the cost. An architecture firm already hired by the city began drawing up plans as soon as city officials received notice.

A local match of $49,500 will be added.

“We’ll advertise immediately for that work as soon as we get the plans back,” said Mayor Laurence Leyens.

The city purchased the 95-year-old former freight and passenger depot for $215,000 to use as part of a much larger waterfront development. Plans call for converting the structure into a river-rail museum and visitors center. Vicksburg owns the retired MV Mississippi, once the Corps of Engineers’ flagship towboat, and the Corps is contemplating a museum at City Front.

The city is also seeking a grant from the Great American Station Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps revitalize old railroad stations.

The city is also seeking Landmark status for the depot. The exclusive listing is usually reserved for such historic sites as the Old Court House Museum.

The depot was a center for north-south rail activity in the early 1900s. In 1931, much business moved to the Holly Street Depot, just east of the Cherry Street viaduct until being torn down. The downtown depot was used by Illinois Central for offices until 1974 and since has been used for purposes including as a kidney dialysis center and as a restaurant.