Friends Of The Depot

Board of Directors:
Don Wagner, Chair
Phil Black
Amanda Stirn
Audrey LaCrone

Officers:
Don Wagner, President
Phil Black, Vice President
Amanda Stirn, Secretary
Debbie Wagner, Treasurer

The story behind The Depot

What Don and Debbie Wagner have been trying to do with The Depot in Bennington is to establish a place where local artists can bring their work, their artistic projects, and where local people can enjoy those artistic efforts.

‘Towns like Bennington, with a population of less than 900 people, rarely have the opportunities of artistic and creative public expression as larger towns. The Wagner’s moved the old Santa Fe Depot into a former lumber yard that had closed decades before. Debbie Wagner, a visual artist, used the office of the lumber yard for a studio.

The Depot, once in place, also served as a gallery to display her art. The Depot, built in 1888, was in serious need of repair. Don and Debbie decided they couldn’t let that piece of history fade away, so they bought it. The plan was to move it from its location about three blocks away to its current location on Main Street.

They got the building moved in 2005. But that was only one part of it because now they had a tremendous amount of work to do to the place to make it usable. They did that as well. Don repaired, recycled, and refurbished in an effort to make the depot a place for the playing of live music and the combined depot and lumber yard a place for the arts in general.

For several years friends and performers came to The Depot to make music. Sometimes the impromptu concerts – with any number of musicians sitting in – would go on all night. It was great fun and a great venue for local artists. Family and friends used the facility for community gatherings and celebrations.

Then the pandemic hit. Telling a musician – especially one who thrives on playing before an audience – that they can no longer do that is a disheartening prospect. Fortunately, thanks to a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, The Depot was able to purchase equipment necessary to become a live-streaming studio. Several concerts have been streamed from The Depot and with more and more people receiving vaccines, there will be greater opportunities to bring back live audiences while still maintaining live streaming. In July of 2021,

The Depot will be holding the first annual Bennington Midsummer Arts Festival, greatly expanding from visual arts and music to include poetry readings, yoga classes, drum circles, storytelling, and much more. Thus, the future of The Depot is renewed!

You’re welcome to be part of it!

Don Wagner

Donald Wagner is lifetime resident of central Kansas and is a native son of the prairie. In addition to teaching English, he ranches, farms, builds, and writes. He has been an educator most of his life but also raises Longhorn cattle and until recently ran an organic wheat and alfalfa farm. He is married to Debbie Harbin Wagner, a brain tumor survivor who has painted the sunrise every morning since 2005. They live in the country with three dogs and the changing winds. Wagner plays guitar and fiddle, sings songs he likes and some he has written, and maintains The Depot in Bennington.

Phil Black

Phil Black, originally from Kansas City, moved to Salina in 2002 to be the Academic Dean of Brown Makie College. During that time he earned his doctorate in Education Leadership with an emphasis in college administration. Throughout his life, Phil has been involved with nonprofits, including their founding. Also throughout his life, though prior to moving to Salina, Phil was a professional musician playing across the region. The Depot was an opportunity for Phil to utilize his administrative skills, his work in establishing and working within nonprofits, and his music – a chance he could not pass up.

Audrey LeCrone

Audrey LeCrone is an actor-turned-dialect coach. She has coached clients from over 60 countries and loves being able to teach on a “Hollywood” scale. Recently, her client, Daniel Kaluuya, won an Oscar for work on set in the film Judas and the Black Messiah. She is the daughter of Don and Debbie Wagner and has been around The Depot since its transformation from a train station to a cultural arts and event center, and looks forward to helping it grow even more.

Amanda Wagner

Amanda Wagner graduated with a B.A. from Kansas Wesleyan University. She currently works at The Land Institute in Salina, KS as a development associate. Additionally, Wagner is an active exhibiting visual artist and serves on several community groups that promote regional activity. She has participated in several events hosted by The Depot and has witnessed the positive effect it has on Bennington. Wagner’s goal is to continue to promote The Depot for its role in bringing the arts to rural communities.

Debbie Wagner

Debbie Wagner is a visual artist. She formed The Kansas Figure Drawing Group 11 years ago. This group has met at the Depot almost every week since. The visual and musical talents emerging from the Depot strongly complement each other and strengthen the artistic community which Debbie is honored to be a part of.