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1880 Train Depot
Original Photo Postcard from
the Pat Tripp Collection
BHPA Catalog #DPT 0007 |
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The 1880 Depot
Originally the 1880 Depot was
built at the crossroads of the north-south tracks of the old Chicago St. Paul
Minneapolis & Omaha line (CStPM&O) and the east-west tracks of the Sioux
City & Pacific line, approximately at the same location as the 1910 brick
depot that many members of the community remember at Front and 14th streets.
This 1880 depot was the second depot in Blair, taking over the function of
the three-story Blair House Hotel & Depot built in 1869 that was located
west of 16th Street and north of the railroad tracks. The 1880 depot was
moved west a couple of blocks and used for storage and freight after the
1910 depot was built. Later it was again moved north across the tracks
and west across Walker Avenue (today 16th Street) and stood basically
unnoticed by most except railroad buffs and historians.
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1880 Depot
The 1882 there is mention that
"a beautiful passenger depot has been built by the Chicago, St. Paul,
Minneapolis & Omaha and Sioux City & Pacific railroads at Blair"
5 causing one to believe that
both Railroad lines joined in building an passenger depot. Most
likely, these early depots were a simple wood framed structure.
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5
History of the State of Nebraska; A. T. Andreas, 1882
"The stations opened
during the year 1881 are Wakefield, Wayne, Flournoy, Craig and Hiland. A
beautiful passenger depot has been built by the C., St. P., M. & O. and S.
C. & P. R. R., at Blair."
"The Sioux City & Pacific running through from east to west, twenty miles;
and the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, twenty miles, running
through from north to south. These two roads have completed an elegant and
commodious frame union depot at Blair. "
[Link]
[Link]
See also: A
Town Named Blair by Lou Schmitz
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Round House
from the 1894 Plat Map |
2000's Satellite View
North of railroad, west of 16th
street
Showing the 1880 depot before it was moved.
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The First Sioux City & Pacific
depot at Blair, Nebraska was built near the center of town shortly
after the track was completed in 1869. The second more elaborate
depot was constructed at the crossing with the CStPM&O two blocks
further east in 1880. The 24' x 64' frame structure was set at
an angle to accommodate both railroads. The photo shows this
depot and a SC&P train about 1910 The Omaha Road track and
crossing is just the other side of the depot. Photo J.C.
Seacrest Collection. |
Although no longer served by the
railroad due to their limited capacity, some of the old metal covered
grain elevators still exist for use by local feed and seed companies.
This August 21, 1997 scene by Lou Schmitz shows two of these
elevators, the former 1880 depot, now a storage shed, the former city
power plant, and an old mill building. |
The only remaining railroad
building at Blair is the old 1880 depot that was moved to serve as a
freight house and is now used as a seed and feed company storage shed.
It is seen here at it appeared on May 28, 1991. Photo: Lou
Schmitz Collection. |
from
A Town Named Blair
by Lou Schmitz
Chicago & North Western Historical Society Magazine
Fall 1997 Issue |
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Photos |
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Click images to enlarge. |
1880 Blair Railroad Depot
(gift from Ron Hineline, 2007) |
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1880 Depot |
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scan of photo copy from Doug Cook
Collection |
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North Side
from the WCHA Collection |
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