Springfield, MO, Lebanon, Springfield Subs, MP 239.1, Ash Grove, Willow Springs Subs, MP 202.1

Salamat Po (thank you)...

 

Thanks to all for the information on this depot.

I remember seeing this fine building in my much younger days. I always paid extra attention to my surroundings when I was near the railroad tracks.

I have been by this site many times especially in the last two or three years, but I never knew exactly where it stood until now. My wife used to work at the MoPac freight house and we have driven by quite often for old times sake.

It's a shame that so many of these old buildings are gone.

 

19oo ca

 

16 AUG 2022 Does anyone have information to resolve the discrepancy between two sources about the 1926 “new” depot on Mill Street in Springfield?

A. All Aboard (former Frisco Museum publication), Vol 3, no 1, June 1988, p 6-7, says “In 1926 … Springfield depot was completely remodeled.”

B. The Frisco Employes’ Magazine of Mar 1927 pp 8, 28 says old 1882 depot (1882 is date of KCFS&G depot on Mill St.) razed, new one open Dec 24. However, article also says this: “… frame building …The old station that reared its magnificent and be-curIicued mansard roof to the sky way back in 1882 had outlived its usefulness.” That description better fits the pictures of the North Springfield depot on Commercial Street that quit serving as depot in 1902, then became offices, not the downtown Mill St. depot.

Looking at photographs and diagrams of the old and new depots, it would seem possible to have remodeled the “old” depot into the “new” depot.
thank you

 

It was a new structure.

Some of the language used by the press of the day was confusing, when it stated that the new depot was built over and around the old structure. This language is indicative of the construction method. For example, the old station’s baggage room was used as a ticket office and waiting room until the new ones had been completed. Then the old baggage room was razed.

Diagrams of both structures don’t support a remodel.

 

28 AUG 2022 Upon reading the reply (which my Gmail placed in Spam folder), I realized my previous question, repeating the word “remodeled” from the All Aboard magazine, was unclear. Sorry – let’s see if this is better: comparing the old and new depots from the architectural drawings held by the Springfield – Greene County Library, did they reuse parts of the shell of the old depot, but greatly expand it, -OR- did they completely tear down the old depot? (The indicated years are from the plan sheets.)
OLD 1882 DEPOT: Width between outside exterior walls, including the protruding corners = 32 ft. Did not notice a dimension for the protrusions, but by scale, each appears to be no more than a few inches.
NEW 1926 DEPOT: General waiting interior width = 28’-8½“. Since the trackside wall is not flush, is unclear which part is this width.
NEW DEPOT EXT. WALL THICKNESS: Looking at baggage area, exterior width 64’-8”. Sum of the interior dimensions is 30’ + 32-’6” = 62-’6”. Difference equals 2’-2”, or 13” exterior wall thickness.
So, the sum of the new depot interior width + 2 wall thicknesses is in the ballpark of the old depot 32 ft. This could be coincidence, or could indicate “building on to” the shell of the old depot. Thanks for input.