The Depot Room
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In 1877 the Oregonian Railway Co. was established, initially by a group of area farmers who consolidated several smaller railroad companies and who were later bought out by a larger firm. Between 1878 and 1882 the Oregonian Railway built 183 miles of narrow gauge track through St. Paul, Woodburn, Mt. Angel and Silverton and on to Brownsville and Coburg. The line was mainly used to transport logs and lumber. The first spike was driven at Silverton. In 1886, Southern Pacific and Oregonian Railway merged and the track was converted to standard gauge.
Room Amenities
- One Queen
- Pet Friendly
- Bathroom with Shower/Tub
- Cable With Flat Screen TV
- WiFi Internet
- Heat / Air Conditioner
- Alarm Clock / Radio
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Iron & Ironing Boards Available
The first depot was a small shed erected about 1880 – the existing depot was built in 1906 just south of the Square Deal building. Using lumber from Silverton Lumber Co., it was built in stages. In the front was the waiting room and behind was the telegraph and ticket office with steps going up to the warehouse – built higher to accommodate wagons and later on trucks for loading and unloading. Reportedly, the depot was close to 100 feet long. By the ‘20’s, up to 30 carloads of logs were being shipped into Silverton for processing. Cereal, feed and flour were also shipped from Fischer’s Mill. Harry Vetter was the last railroad agent, serving from 1946 to 1970. Passenger service was discontinued around 1930, but prior to that trains left Silverton five times a day. Western Union was there until 1946 when it moved to downtown.
Southern Pacific wanted to close the station in 1959, but the City required them to keep it open. Shipments ranged from 120 a day in 1957, to 81 in 1959 and steadily declined through the ‘60’s. In the late 1970’s the depot was offered for sale for $1.00 with the stipulation that it be moved. The telegraph and ticket office were dismantled and the depot was moved about a block across N. Water Street, where Goodwill is located today. For a time it was used as storage for a pinball manufacturing company. Shortly after that the Historical Society began to raise a target goal $4,000 to have it moved to the Museum property and restored. The Depot was finally moved to this site in July of 1982.
Source: Jeff Brekas