[VAcourier] Battle for South Side Station - Petersburg

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

  Battle for South Side Station Opening volleys begin civil trial over 
ownership of historic building in Petersburg
BY F.M. WIGGINS
STAFF WRITER
http://www.progress-index.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17746985&BRD=2271&PAG=461&dept_id=462946&rfi=6

PETERSBURG -- A jury of nine people heard opening statements and 
testimony yesterday in a civil trial over the ownership of one of the 
city's most historic buildings.

Steven Biss, a lawyer for the previous owner of the South Side Station, 
said the case in Circuit Court was one of waste, broken promises and 
deceit. William Patton of River Street Associates LLC has sued the 
current owners of the train station, The War Between The States Inc., 
claiming the group did not uphold its pledges to restore one of the 
oldest train stations in Virginia.

"The defendants did nothing with this station other than to destroy the 
historic integrity of the building," Biss said in his opening statements.

Patton gave the station to TWBTS in 2002 through a deed of gift. After 
seeing no progress, Biss said that Patton called TWBTS out and filed the 
lawsuit against the group in October 2005.

Biss said that TWBTS had no knowledge of the work entailed in restoring 
the station and even disobeyed the Petersburg Architectural Review Board 
and dismantled part of the station using a front end loader instead of 
doing the work by hand. He added that it may never be known how much of 
the integrity of the structure was lost in that effort.

Attorney Todd Ritter, representing TWBTS, said the group made its 
intentions fully known to Patton. He added that TWBTS has also made vast 
improvements to the historic train station and grounds in the short time 
the group has owned the property.

"It was grown up with weeds and debris, there were old appliances and 
engine parts, toilets and a truck that didn't run," Ritter said, adding 
that TWBTS removed all of the debris from the property.

"There were also dogs roaming around and in the property," Ritter said. 
"TWBTS cleaned up after the dogs."

Ritter also said that an antique caboose that was rusted and in 
disrepair has been painted a bright red by members of the group.

Biss added that the jury would get the opportunity to see what work 
really had been performed since Patton deeded the station to TWBTS on 
March 23, 2002.

Ritter said TWBTS actually did not gain control of the property until 
June 2003 after a lawsuit to remove a tenant of the building.

"We got sued in 2005, and a lot has been done since June 2003," Ritter said.

Ritter added that TWBTS has hosted events including a living history 
exhibit, an event on Sept. 11, 2004, to honor firefighters and an event 
to honor fallen African-American Confederate soldier Richard "Dick" 
Poplar a week later.

"This is still a work in progress," Ritter said of the restoration 
efforts on the station.

Biss, however, said that the jury would hear throughout the trial and 
see evidence that the TWBTS organization has altered records of meetings 
and never applied for any grants in three and a half years.

"It wasn't until July 28, 2005, that Chris White, the secretary of 
TWBTS, reported in the minutes that grant writing was proceeding slowly 
at best," Biss said.

Biss claimed that TWBTS is merely an organization that is attempting to 
preserve the vestiges and emblems of the Confederacy. He added that 
TWBTS has flown a Confederate flag over the station since January 2004 
and has refused to take it down.

Ritter said that a Confederate flag does fly over the building, but that 
the organization also has a U.S. flag and a Union battle flag hanging 
inside the station.

Biss asked that the jury return a verdict in favor of his client and 
return the station to Patton. "Send a message to people who lie to stop 
them from doing it again," he said.

Ritter said that TWBTS was never given any deadlines to complete 
restoration of the station. He added that the group has accomplished a 
lot on a little and should be given the time to complete the restoration 
of the station and its surrounding property.

The civil trial is expected to last at least three days.

. F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 254 or 
fwiggins at progress-index.com
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