Idabel station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Frisco Station
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Texas Ave., Idabel, Oklahoma |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Built by | Vanderslip, E.M. & Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003137 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1979 |
The Frisco Station in Idabel, Oklahoma, is a historic train station. It was built in 1912 by the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway, often called the Frisco Railroad. This new building replaced an older wooden station from 1902.
The station is very important to history. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Today, the building is home to the Idabel Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. This group helps local businesses and farmers.
Contents
About the Frisco Station Building
The Frisco Station is a long building. It is about 102 feet (31 meters) long and 24 feet (7.3 meters) wide. Its walls are made of red brick, and the roof is covered with clay tiles.
Special Roof Design
The roof has unique "eyelid dormers" on its north and south sides. These are like small, rounded windows built into the roof. A special feature is the wide roof overhang. It sticks out 8 feet (2.4 meters) beyond the walls. This wide overhang helps protect the building from heavy rain, which is common in this part of Oklahoma.
Building Cost and Builder
The station cost $10,000 to build in 1912. That was a lot of money back then! It was constructed by a company called E. M. Vanderslip and Company from Oklahoma City.
Why the Station is Historic
The Frisco Station was very important to Idabel for many years. It was the main place for people and goods to travel in and out of town.
A Busy Hub
For about 40 years, the station was a busy center. Four passenger trains arrived and departed daily. Freight trains also used the station to move goods. There were no other major ways to travel or ship things in Idabel at the time.
Saving the Station
When the station was listed as historic, the Frisco Railroad still owned it. They used it as an office for freight. However, the railroad planned to close the office. They thought about tearing down the building to save money on upkeep.
The McCurtain County Historical Society stepped in. They argued that the station was a vital part of Idabel's history. Because of their efforts, the building was saved. The Idabel Chamber of Commerce later moved into the station.
How Idabel Got Its Name
Did you know that the town of Idabel is named after two people? It was named after Ida and Belle Purnell. They were the daughters of an important railway official.
