Springfield Depot

• The Chamber of Commerce Dan Egan
  
• dan@springfield-chamber.org

Does the Springfield Depot building have historical significance? What makes it special? In the 1800's, a railroad and a railroad stop were the lifelines to the outside world. During Springfield's early years, wagons on extremely poor roads or a boat on the Willamette River were the only ways to move goods. If Springfield were to prosper, it would need a rail line.

Collis P. Huntington, one of the owners of the Southern Pacific Railroad, acquired the Oregon and California Railroad in 1891. One of the properties he acquired was the rail line from Dundee to Coburg. He set about to extend this line through Springfield. The Springfield Investment and Power Company donated 50 acres for a depot and shop about where South 7th Street crosses the railroad tracks today in Springfield.

The Springfield Depot was constructed in "Southern Pacific Standard Plan #22." This style has been referred to as Victorian/stick style, Queen Anne style, and also as Chalet style. It is considered one of the more elaborate Southern Pacific designs of the nineteenth century. While somebody might think the design elaborate, the station represented practical architecture. It was built long and narrow so it would fit between two sets of tracks. The second story also served as the living quarters for the stationmaster and his family. The Depot's original first floor design contained a trainmen's lobby, ticket office, passenger waiting room, and freight office. The bay window was the telegrapher' bay which allowed the telegraph operator an unobstructed view up and down the tracks.

Depot construction represented the beginning of an era of major growth and development in the population, commerce, and economy of the city of Springfield. This transportation link greatly enhanced the ability of people and businesses to come, any stay in Springfield. Now Springfield could trade more easily with the rest of the country.

Soon after the rail line was constructed, new businesses and industries arrived. The Douglas fir tree had always been an important part of the early economy and now its lumber could be sent anywhere a train went. In 1902, Booth Kelley Lumber was persuaded to move to Springfield. Roseboro Lumber Company also moved to Springfield from Roseboro, Arkansas. Over and above this development of manufacturing businesses, the vast majority of early nineteenth century settlers to the Willamette valley were farmers. Grain, flour, and, of course, filberts were exported. Soon hops were grown for the expanding breweries in Portland. As a center for imports, exports, personal transportation and communication, the Depot was now the central part of the community.

• Pacific Railroad and Preservation Association

Until the mid 1950's, moving goods and people by rail was the primary form of long distance transportation. However, when Southern Pacific discontinued passenger service to Springfield in 1965, the Springfield Depot fell into a long period of decline and disrepair. In 1988, the Southern Pacific Railroad offered to give the Depot to the City of Springfield if the City would move it and take it off their hands. Thanks to good luck and good fortune, the City saw potential for the Depot.

The Depot was the oldest commercial structure in Springfield. The Depot was the last two-story passenger depot left in Oregon. The Depot was the last Queen Anne style passenger train station left in the state. This was a piece of history worth saving but what could be done with it? The Springfield Depot Foundation was formed. Their vision was to preserve the Depot to retain its heritage and create an attractive building to serve as the official Visitors Center of Springfield. The Depot was moved to its present location at 101 South A Street. In April 1993 the Springfield Depot was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Today the Depot is 109 years old and serves as a "greeting" for everyone who drives into Springfield on Main Street. Just think. Before the Depot was built, there was no easy way to get to Eugene. Before the depot was built, you might grow up in Springfield and never dream of going to Portland. When the Depot was built it was considered "elaborate" architecture. The construction of the Depot brought with it the telegraph and Springfield became "high-tech." The Depot symbolizes the beginning of good times and growth to Springfield yet at the height of the glory days of rail transport in the late 1940's, Springfield was still a little town with only 9,488 citizens. By the time the Depot ended its first useful life, there were still only 14,000 of us in Springfield. Today, there are nearly 51,000 people in Springfield. Look at the Depot and think how far we have come in a century.