Vision to Reality: Monroe's New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight...

transcript

Southern Pacific Railroad’sDepot in Monroe, OR - 1915

VISION TO REALITY: Monroe’s New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP)

Railroad Freight Depot------ The First 100 Years ------

1913-2013

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South Benton Community Museum

VISION…

View from Highway 99 of the proposed new Monroe Community LibraryCourtesy of Broadleaf Architecture

Broadleaf Architecture

...VISION…

Main entry, looking north, of the proposed new Monroe Community LibraryCourtesy of Broadleaf Architecture

…VISION

Main Library Space of the proposed new Monroe Community LibraryCourtesy of Broadleaf Architecture

REALITY…

View from Highway 99 of the new Monroe Community Library – May 3, 2013

…REALITY…

Main entry, looking north, of the new Monroe Community Library – May 16, 2013

…REALITY

Main Library Space of the new Monroe Community Library – June 8, 2013

Table of Contents• Introduction• Monroe Library Facts• Maps of Monroe & the Railroad• Monroe’s Railroad History & Facts• Images of the Railroad & Vicinity (1910-2012)• New Library Construction (June 2012-May 2013)• Library Grand Opening Ceremony (June 2013)• Before & After the New Library Construction• Acknowledgments & Dedications

IntroductionPURPOSE• The initial purpose of this project, “Vision to Reality: Monroe’s New Community Library

& Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight Depot,” was to pass time during a period of unemployment. Over the weeks and months that followed, I captured over 10,000 images of this construction and restoration project. In addition to capturing all those images, I gained a new respect for this community and everyone who contributed to bringing this vision to reality. The new building was more than just a library, it symbolized the community’s commitment to its past, present and future. As a result my purpose changed from just capturing images to documenting and sharing a remarkable piece of local history.

SCOPE• The scope of this project is to document the construction of the new Monroe

Community Library and restoration of the former Southern Pacific Railroad’s freight depot from the perspective of local railroad history and preservation.

DEDICATION• This project is dedicated to the residents of Monroe, Oregon and the surrounding

South Benton community. We have the unique opportunity to walk into a new library that celebrates our community’s past, present and future.

Table of Contents• Introduction• Monroe Library Facts• Maps of Monroe & the Railroad• Monroe’s Railroad History & Facts• Images of Railroad Depot & Vicinity (1910-2012)• New Library Construction (June 2012-May 2013)• Library Grand Opening Ceremony (June 2013)• Before & After the New Library Construction• Acknowledgments & Dedications

Monroe Library Facts• According to Oregon Library Association

standards, the former library was about one-third the recommended size for its service area. About 3,200 people visited each month compared to 800 patrons in 2002.

• Beginning in 2007, through fundraising, grants and private donations about $2.4 million was raised for the new library project.

• The previous library, pictured, at 668 Commercial Street, was 1,250 square feet.

• The new library is a 7,500 square foot building located at 380 N. 5th Street; 4,700 square feet will be used for the library.

• The new library encompasses elements of both old and new including the 1913-built Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot.

• An agricultural distributor, Wilbur-Ellis, donated the depot and the City of Monroe donated vacant land to build it.

• General contractor was 2G Construction of Eugene and Ed Vaughn was project manager.

• The architect of the new library, Lori Stephens, drew her inspiration for the library from the Goracke building, north of Monroe on Hwy. 99.

• It includes a branch of the Benton County library system and space for community meetings.

• The City of Monroe owns the new library and Benton County provides the staff and books.

• Construction on the library began on June 19, 2012; the new library opened on May 14, 2013.

Corvallis Gazette Times

Railroad Map of Western Oregon

Southern Pacific Railroad’sPortland Division, January 1921

Note: Wide angle view of Lower Westside Branch between Corvallis and Eugene highlighted in black.

Map of Lower Westside Branch

Southern Pacific Railroad’sPortland Division, January 1921

Note: Bird’s eye view of Lower Westside Branch between Eugene & Corvallis highlighted in black.

Map of Lower Westside BranchPortland & Western Railroad’sBailey District, December 1, 2000

Note: Bird’s eye view of Lower Westside Branch between Corvallis, Monroe & Dawson highlighted in solid blue.

Map Courtesy of Portland & Western Railroad.

Map of Monroe, Oregon

Map Courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad; Map Markers by SP Digital Media

Location of Monroe’s Depot

Map Courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad; Map Markers by SP Digital Media

A Bit of Railroad History…In 1908, Stephen Carver’s Corvallis & Alsea River Railroad Company extended tracks 30 miles south from Corvallis to Monroe, Alpine and Glenbrook. Originally he intended the railroad to continue to Alsea and on to the Pacific Coast, however the Panic of 1909 prevented Carver from securing adequate credit to complete the Corvallis & Alsea River Railroad in this way.

-- From Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways by Edwin D. Culp

A Bit More Railroad History…In 1911, Alvadore Welch purchased the line from Stephen Carver and renamed it Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railroad Company. Welch also acquired the streetcar systems of Salem, Albany, West Linn and Eugene with the bold idea of using these lines as the nucleus for an electric railroad between Portland and San Francisco. This plan would never come to fruition and, in 1912, Welch sold the line to Southern Pacific Railroad.

-- From Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways by Edwin D. Culp

Takeover & Completion of Lower Westside Announced –

Newspaper articles courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, ORSouth Benton Community Museum

Last “Golden Spike” Driven –June 7, 1913

Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

Location Last Spike was Driven: Commercial & N. 6th St. – 1920

Large white house on left is the second Wilhelm House circa 1920. The original house was also located on the left, just beyond the new house.

Location Last Spike was Driven: Commercial & N. 6th St. – 2011

Large white house on left is the second Wilhelm House in September 2011. The original house was also located on the left, just beyond the new house.

Courtesy of Google Maps, Monroe, OR

Monroe Railroad Facts (Part 1)• Monroe’s depot was built by Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad in

1913 and originally measured 25 by 138 feet;• It appears to be a modified SP Style Combination Type 23 depot,

which included a passenger station, restrooms, ticket agent’s counter in southern third of the building, and a baggage room in the northern two-thirds of the structure;

• Initially, beginning in 1913, passenger service was offered daily between Corvallis and Eugene (via Monroe, Transfer and Blair).

• Passenger service ceased with the Red Electrics’ demise in 1932;• ICC approved abandonment of 11.099 miles of the Lower

Westside Branch on September 20, 1935 between Transfer and Cheshire. Rails were removed in 1936.

• On April 20, 1950, the ICC approved abandoning 3.822 miles of the Alpine Branch between Bailey Junction and Glenbrook.

Monroe Railroad Facts (Part 2)• With rail traffic on the decline, SP’s application to abandon 9.06

miles of the Lower Westside Branch between Cheshire (MP 662.44) and Monroe (MP 671.48) was approved on August 2, 1957. The rail was removed the following year;

• After a string of ICC approved abandonments, beginning in 1935 and concluding in 1957, this left only the line from Corvallis to Monroe and Alpine Jct. to Dawson in service;

• The passenger portion of the depot was torn down in 1968;• SP continued operating the Lower Westside Branch until

Willamette & Pacific took over operations in February 1993;• The freight portion of the depot remained intact and in place for

use by railroad shippers, including Wilbur Ellis, until 2007;• In March 2007, the depot was moved 300 yards north from its

original location, at 555 Depot St., to Ash St. & Highway 99.

Monroe Railroad Facts (Part 3)• Portland & Western Railroad’s last freight train served the Lower

Westside Branch, including Monroe, in May 2007; • On September 9, 2011 the STB granted UP’s request to abandon

17.86 miles of the Lower Westside & Bailey Branch;• On June 20, 2012, crews from 2G Construction began work on the

new Monroe Community Library at the new site of the depot and the groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 29, 2012;

• The freight depot was incorporated as a wing of the new library, which was completed in May 2013. It coincided with the 100th anniversary of the depot and driving of the last golden spike;

• Benton County purchased the Lower Westside & Bailey Branch right-of-way on October 1, 2013 from Union Pacific for $486,000;

• On January 27, 2014, SRC Industries arrived in Monroe, at Kelly & North 6th Streets, near the original location of the railroad depot to begin scrapping the Lower Westside & Bailey Branches.

Bailey Junction – Circa 1910

Corvallis & Alsea Railroad’s Chief Engineer traveling over the Bailey Branch, arrived at Bailey Junction, in his car equipped with flange wheels. On the left, the line goes to

Alpine and Glenbrook. And, to the right, it veers off to Bellfountain and Dawson; Courtesy of Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways

Edwin D. Culp’s Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways & South Benton Community Museum

Monroe’s Railroad Depot - 1915

Monroe’s Railroad Depot – 1930

SP Station Agent & Postmaster

On the house track with boxcars being loaded and unloaded at the freight depot. Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

SP Station Agent, Monroe

McGovern was Southern Pacific Railroad’s Willamina Station Agent prior to 1920, then Monroe’s Station Agent from 1920-1957; Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

Monroe’s Railroad Depot – 1940s or 1950s

Ben Maxwell Collection & Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR – August 16, 1963

According to Austin & Dill’s book, titled “The Southern Pacific in Oregon Pictorial,” the passenger portion of Southern Pacific Railroad’s Monroe depot was dismantled in 1968.

The freight portion of the depot remained standing in its original location until March 2007. Early on a Sunday morning, the depot would begin a new journey for the same community it served for nearly 50 years. Ben Maxwell & South Benton Community Museum

Ben Maxwell Collection & Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR – August 16, 1963

Ben Maxwell Collection & South Benton Community Museum

SP’s local arrives in Monroe, with a caboose, stops next to the railroad freight depot before switching cars and returning to Corvallis. Courtesy of Louis Thelen.

The local arrives in Monroe to switch cars. Also the crew stops for “beans” before returning to Corvallis. Courtesy of Louis Thelen.

The local is switching cars near the railroad depot in Monroe. Courtesy of Louis Thelen.

The end of the line. The local is parked on the Lower Westside’s mainline while the track on the right is a portion of the original house track. Courtesy of Louis Thelen.

Looking north as Portland & Western Railroad’s (PNWR) Corvallis Local is about to meander over the Ash Street grade crossing in Monroe. Courtesy of Dan Haneckow.

Looking north at the Depot Street grade crossing in Monroe. PNWR’s Corvallis Local picks up a car at Wilbur Ellis near the freight depot. Courtesy of Dan Haneckow.

View of depot’s north side with green metal building, directly behind the depot, now taking the place of the removed passenger section. Courtesy of Daniel J. Sheets.

This is a foundation remnant from the bay window of the depot’s passenger section. Courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest’s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

Historic Preservation Northwest

South end of depot where the passenger section was lopped off and a shallow eave was left behind. Courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest’s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

(Left) South elevation of freight depot where passenger section was removed. Both images courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest’s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

(Right) East side of the depot and adjacent to house track.Historic Preservation Northwest

(Right) One of two fire hydrant accesses boarded up.

(Left) One of five original baggage or freight room doors with corrugated fiberglass windows. All images courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest’s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

(Center) The single passage door down the stairs and out the south end of depot.

(Left) The baggage room facing the north freight door. Courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest.

(Bottom Right) The in-floor scale in the baggage room.

(Top Right) ‘Carl’s Girl’ graffiti in the baggage room.

Historic Preservation Northwest Historic Preservation Northwest

View of north side of the freight portion of the former Southern Pacific railroad depot. Courtesy of Daniel J. Sheets, Monroe OR.

Depot Move – March 11, 2007

Depot moves from its original location on Depot Street, 300 yards north on Highway 99. Courtesy of Michelle A. Sheets, Monroe OR.

Freight depot moves 300 yards north on Highway 99 and turns west onto Ash Street. Courtesy of Michelle A. Sheets, Monroe, OR.

On a Sunday morning, the depot traveled north on Highway 99, turned west onto Ash Street, and completed a 360 degree turn onto the future community library site. Courtesy of Michelle A. Sheets.© 2007, 2012 Michelle A. Sheets

Depot completed its 360 degree move from Highway 99 to its new location on Ash Street for the future Monroe Community Library. Courtesy of Michelle A. Sheets, Monroe, OR.

After Depot Move – 2011

The former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot at the corner of Ash & North 5th Streets (i.e. Highway 99), four years after the move. Courtesy of Google Maps.

Monroe’s Depot & Vicinity

All remaining black & white images in this presentation are courtesy of Daniel J. Sheets, Monroe OR.

Monroe’s New Library & Restored Railroad Depot

Monroe’s New Library & Restored Depot– 05-08-2012

Monroe’s New Library & Restored Depot – 05-29-2012

Railroad depot moved again and turned 180 degrees in preparation for the new community library construction. Passenger side of the depot now faces north.

Construction begins on the new Monroe Community Library; the official groundbreaking ceremony is five days later

Courtesy of Corvallis Gazette Times – Official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Monroe Community Library - June 29, 2012

Corvallis Gazette Times

The metal bracket, which held the “MONROE” railroad station sign, remains attached to the moss-covered roof of the former SP depot prior to restoration.

Southern Pacific’s original “Depot Brown” paint color still clings to the railroad’s depot siding prior to the restoration.

Monroe’s New Library & Restored Depot – 10-20-

Railroad “graffiti” on the walls of the former SP freight depot. Oregon Apple Company and A. Wilhelm & Sons were local railroad shippers.

Before & After The New Library Construction

Although the community will never recover the passenger portion of the original depot, there are a few architectural features included in the new library that are reminiscent of the original depot including the windows, double front door and the upside down “T” beam above the north entrance.

Monroe’s former Southern Pacific railroad depot in 1915. The passenger portion of the depot was torn down in 1968. Compare the north entrance of the new library, below, to the original depot pictured on the left.

A similar view, looking north, from Wilbur-Ellis at the Ash Street grade crossing. In 2001 (above), there were residential homes and open space to the east of the railroad. In 2013, the landscape changed with a new library and restored freight depot as a community meeting place. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets

The same scene in 2014, right, now an abandoned railroad right of way. SRC Industries began scrapping the line in January 2014. As for the former Southern Pacific railroad freight depot, it was saved, moved, restored and now incorporated as a wing of the new library.

A view of Monroe’s depot in 1990, left, complete with a caboose on a local switching cars at Wilbur-Ellis.

A similar view of Monroe’s railroad depot in 2001 (above) and 2014 (right). The image above has an engine picking up a hopper car at Wilbur-Ellis. In the image, right, the railroad is abandoned but the new library is completed incorporating the freight depot in the overall design. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets

Once the railroad freight depot was moved in March 2007, to be incorporated as a wing of the new Monroe Community Library, Wilbur-Ellis constructed a new building on the site of the old freight depot.

In better days when Southern Pacific Railroad operated a local train on a regular, fairly frequent schedule from Corvallis to Monroe. Image captured by Louis Thelen in 1988.

Before Depot Move & New Library – November 1988

The former SP freight depot, pictured at its original location, at 555 Depot Street in Monroe. Immediately in front of it is a light green metal structure, which is built on the foundation of the original passenger portion of the depot. Courtesy of Louis Thelen.

Wilbur Ellis

Proposed New Monroe Library & Restored SP Freight Depot at Ash & N. 5th Streets

Original Freight Depot

Original Passenger Depot Location

End of the Lower Westside Branch End of the House Trackat Kelly & N. 6th Streets

Before New Library & After Depot Move – September 2011

Four years after moving the former SP freight depot from 555 Depot Street to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets, here is a view of the original location of the passenger and freight

depot, looking north, from Kelly & N. 6th Streets. Courtesy of Google Maps.

End of the Lower Westside Branch

End of the House Trackat Kelly & N. 6th Streets

Original FreightDepot Located Hereat 555 Depot Street

Monroe High School

Proposed New Monroe Library & Restored SP Freight Depot at Ash & N. 5th Streets

Wilbur Ellis

After New Library Construction – February 2014

Seven years after moving the depot, in March 2007, to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets, here is a view of the original location of the passenger and freight depot, looking north,

from Kelly & N. 6th Streets. Note the new library just east of the railroad.

Wilbur Ellis

New Monroe Library & Restored SP Freight Depot at Ash & N. 5th Streets

Original FreightDepot Located Hereat 555 Depot Street

End of the Lower Westside Branch

Monroe High School

End of the House Trackat Kelly & N. 6th Streets

Wilbur Ellis

The completed new Monroe Community Library for the grand opening ceremony and celebration on June 8, 2013. Countless citizens, politicians and press were on hand for the event dedicating the library.

After the depot moved to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets in Monroe, it sat for five years while efforts were underway to raise the nearly $2.4 million to build the new library incorporating the donated depot.

The former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot at the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets four years after the depot move in March 2007. This image was captured in September 2011.

The former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot, located at the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets (i.e. Highway 99W) is pictured nearly 30 months later in February 2014. The depot is now restored and incorporated into the design of the new Monroe Community Library.

BEFORE construction of the new Monroe Community Library could begin, in June 2012, the former Southern Pacific Railroad’s freight depot was moved 300 yards from Depot Street to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets. This happened on March 11, 2007. This image was captured on August 8, 2012.

AFTER nearly a year of construction, the new Monroe Community Library was unveiled to local residents, press and politicians on June 8, 2013. The architect used images from the original passenger portion of the Monroe depot to recreate the entrance to the library.

Monroe’s New Library & Restored Railroad Depot – Mission Accomplished• Completion of the new Monroe

Community Library and renovation of the former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot was in May 2013;

• The grand opening of the new library coincided closely with the former SP depot’s 100th anniversary and driving of the last spike in Monroe on June 7, 1913;

• At this time, there are no special events planned, but your humble correspondent will keep you posted.

My Project Dedication• My project, “Vision to Reality: Monroe’s New Community

Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight Depot,” would not be possible without the help of a few great people. I dedicate this project to the following folks:

• Lori Pelkey and Alison Gavin, Community Library Specialists, Monroe Community Library. Lori and Alison were kind, sweet and accommodating to me.

• Ed Vaughn, Foreman, 2G Construction. Ed granted me exclusive access to the inside of the library. I owe him a HUGE debt of gratitude for taking the time to show me around and allowing me to document the construction.

• Lori Stephens, Architect, Broadleaf Architecture. Lori designed more than just a building with four walls and a roof but a building that suits the community perfectly.

• The residents of the South Benton Community.

My Personal Dedication• This presentation is also dedicated to Southern Pacific

Railroad along with the communities and people it served.

• On January 27, 2014 salvage crews from SRC Industries arrived in Monroe to dismantle and remove the rail and ties from the 18-mile Lower Westside & Bailey Branches stretching from Monroe to a location near Greenberry, Oregon and from Alpine Junction, just north of Monroe, to within 1,000 feet of the mill in Dawson, Oregon.

• This presentation documents Monroe’s New Library & Restored Railroad Depot. Without the railroad, there would be no depot to restore or rejoice in its history.

• Although the branch line will be removed and scrapped by Summer 2014, it will never be forgotten as long as we have images such as the one contained in this presentation. Thank you for your support!

Southern Pacific Railroad’sDepot in Monroe, OR - 1915

VISION TO REALITY: Monroe’s New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP)

Railroad Freight Depot------ The First 100 Years ------

1913-2013

Follow Me spdigitalmedia.com dan@spdigitalmedia.com spdigitalmediapro spdigitalmedia1 slideshare.net/DanSheets instagram.com/spdigitalmedia flickr.com/photos/danieljsheets spdigitalmedia.com/Blog/blog.html linkedin.com/company/sp-digital-media

Vision to Reality: Monroe's New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight...

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