Early Alvin warmly welcomes new depot

Early Alvin warmly welcomes new depot

By Marie Beth Jones
The Facts
Published May 11, 2009

Alvin residents were disappointed and angry when the railroad company withdrew its plans to build a new station to replace the leaky, red-painted shack that had served them ever since the railroad was built through town.

In a story headlined “New Depot Egg Failed to Hatch,” the Alvin Sun’s editor reported residents were “very much vexed” over the manner in which they had been treated.

Whether these feelings had anything to do with it or not, the company soon decided to go ahead with plans for new depot on a site just east of the small building on the south side of the railroad tracks.

To be constructed of brick and stucco, the new station would be “one of the handsomest passenger stations along the lines of the Santa Fe in the state,” the newspaper reported.

The cost of the building alone was to be $35,000 — a considerable sum for construction in that era — and landscaping would add several thousand dollars more.

Soon, 75 laborers had relocated the railroad’s tracks to the new depot. As the work progressed, the newspaper reported more space for the improvements had been provided by the demolition of a “shack” housing an old restaurant.

Upon completion of the depot, the newspaper heaped praise on the improvements. The editor particularly commented on its “modern conveniences,” which included electric lights, restrooms and comfortable seats for passengers awaiting a train, as well as the latest in machines used by operators and ticket cabinets.


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