Southerland Station

We started in Huntsville, in the blueprint machine and art supply business in 1958. Mr. Dave Southerland had a vision, and a great nose for trends and innovation. Business boomed for quite some time in Huntsville as Southerland Blueprint served the Redstone Aresenal community. Mr. Southerland Sold his blueprint business to Mr. Dick Metzger, and the late Mr. Livingston. Southerlands thrived for quite some time.

Enter the dawn of CAD drafting, the blueprint business failed. Dick Metzger, long time owner decided to bring a couple of train sets in one Christmas, just to see what might happen. He decorated the store, and set up his personal train effects. Huntsville loved it. It was a draw at Christmas time. So he brought in more trains, and started to add toy lines a bit at a time. Gradually, the once very sterile environment of Blueprint machines, ammonia and blueprint paper, was completely transformed into a life giving, happy place full of wonder and fancy. Mr. Metzger had a silent partner join the venture- and decided to move into the Skating rink next door, and changed the Name to Southerland Station- as a one stop shop for anything and everything- but Blueprint supplies.

Mr. Metzger's family helped him run the fun until the Spring of 2014 when he decided it was time to go fishing. The business would have to move, and it seemed a great exit time to head to the lake and for his standing partnership to discontinue. Mr. Metzger's daughters, (Holly Butler and Nikki Skidmore) and son in Law, Lowell Skidmore decided rather than let the Huntsville Tradition stop, they would step up to the plate and see if they could continue the magic another 56 years.

Thank you HUNTSVILLE, for the love and support you've showered Southerland Station with this year. We hope to continue to be near and dear to your heart, and to bring a little joy and cheer to your lives each and every day!

Blessings!!

Nikki, Holly, and Lowell