Cobalt’s 115-year-old train station reopens

After multiple owners and closures, the Cobalt Train Station has opened its doors once again and is available to host events in the community.

After multiple owners and closures, the Cobalt Train Station is opening its doors once again.

The station has a long and storied history, first opening to the public June 5, 1910. It had its official reopening Wednesday.

“Some of our research (said) the original date was the 25th. So how fitting that we’re able to open our doors today on its 115th anniversary,” said Pamela Hamel, project lead for the Cobalt Train Station reopening.

While unable to use its original doors for the reopening, officials did use them to make the bar for this bookable venue.

Available for bookings

The new Cobalt Train station is owned by a private company that will be booking the space out for weddings, events, as well as long-term and short-term rentals.

“It’s so exciting,” Hamel said.

“We’re really over the moon. Everybody that has been involved with the project, the community has been, you know, just so supportive. And they’ve been visionaries for decades to try to transform the station into a place, a hub for people to meet and gather.”

Her excitement is also shared by the town and council in Cobalt.

“We’re so, so just so happy,” said deputy mayor Pat Anderson. “It’s a beautiful event space, a premier event space like we have never had in Cobalt before.”

Hamel said she wanted to maintain the deep history the station has with the town. For example, she kept the terrazzo flooring that was worn down over the years to maintain the station’s original charm.

“Locals just see it as a place that they can say, hey, you know what? I want to show your the station,” she said.

“The grandparents came here, right? Like I mentioned, for the people getting off the train and walking under the platform and into the building, this was their welcoming ... Part of our operating philosophy is to really make people feel welcome when they come here.”

Maggie Wilson, chair of the Cobalt Historical Society, said the train station is what founded Cobalt.

At first, workers were just laying the rail tracks passing through the area to get to New Liskeard -- until they discovered silver.

It was a discovery that brought the mining industry to Cobalt, creating the need for the Cobalt Train Station.

“It was an essential, prosperous project and it’s iconic,” Hamel said.

“It just represents everything (about) how Cobalt got its start and hopefully Cobalt’s future.”

She said she has big plans for the train station, which will always include Cobalt’s rich history.