A new deck, repairs to the loading dock and stabilized ramp railings are the newest renovations to the Historic Crawford Depot, funded in part by the annual Restoration Run 5K which will mark its 22nd year on Sept. 7.
The out-and-back race will begin where Church Street and First Street meet, and it will end on North Elm Street behind the Depot, with a water stop at the turnaround point on Smokey Road.
This is the fifth race of the 2026 Firefly Trail Race Series and the second of the fall series.
Since 2005, the race has raised money to support the Historic Crawford Depot in downtown Crawford, which houses the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce and hosts community events.
Built in 1848, the Depot is one of the few surviving stone depots constructed by the Georgia Railroad Company.
“We started it because we needed money for restoration on the Depot,” said Linda Parish, Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce’s tourism and hospitality director. “I got two $300,000 grants from the (Georgia) Department of Transportation to restore the Depot, but then we had to match it with $150,000, and then there’s ongoing maintenance.”
Now more than two decades in, Carole Black, owner of Classic Race Services, said finding sponsors to support the race is one of the biggest challenges.
“With the economic impact of varying things, sponsors have really, and no fault, I don’t blame them for this, but they’ve really cut back on the amount of giving that they are able to give small races like this,” she said.
The economy may also impact people’s willingness to register to run in the race, with participation decreasing slightly over the past three years, Black said.
As of Aug. 31, 99 participants were signed up for the race, with 87 participating in person for the 5K and 12 for the virtual version. By comparison, there were 110 participants in 2025, 115 in 2024 and 117 in 2023.
“That is common across all races right now,” Black said. “When something has to give, it’s things like this that they chose not to do.”
Proceeds also go toward the Firefly Trail, which is projected to extend 39 miles from Athens to Union Point. A section of the trail has been completed in Maxeys, with the Model Mile open since 2021.
“I’m pleased that they’ve kept it going,” said Firefly Trail development coordinator John Kissane, who participated in the first Restoration Run. “They’re a small town, but they manage to keep it going and have raised funds for some restoration of the Depot, which is a positive thing.”