Stillwater Santa Fe Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stillwater
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| Former AT&SF passenger rail station | |||||||||||
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| Location | 401 East 9th Avenue, Stillwater, Oklahoma | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
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| Structure type | at-grade | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1915 | ||||||||||
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Santa Fe Depot-Stillwater
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Payne County, Oklahoma | ||||||||||
| Nearest city | Stillwater, Oklahoma | ||||||||||
| Area | less than one acre | ||||||||||
| Built | 1915 | ||||||||||
| Built by | Santa Fe Railway Co. | ||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 80004293 | ||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | March 3, 1980 | ||||||||||
The Stillwater Santa Fe Depot is an old train station. It is located at 400 East 10th Street in Stillwater, Oklahoma. This building was used by the Santa Fe Railroad from 1900 to 1958. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's a great example of how old buildings can be given a new purpose. This is called adaptive re-use. The depot now serves as the main office for two important groups.
Contents
History of the Stillwater Train Station
How Stillwater Grew with the Railroad
On April 22, 1880, many people moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma. This was during the Land Rush of 1889. Stillwater became a busy town very quickly. It was chosen as the main city for the new Payne County, Oklahoma. The office where people registered their land claims was also set up there.
However, Stillwater was about 20 miles (32 km) from the nearest train tracks. Local leaders soon realized that a railroad was vital for the town to grow. It was even more important after Stillwater was chosen for the new Territorial Agricultural & Mechanical University. Lawmakers thought about picking another city with better train access.
Bringing the Railroad to Stillwater
Supporters in Stillwater started a campaign. They wanted the Eastern Oklahoma Railway Company to build a line to their town. This company was part of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. By March 1900, the train tracks had reached Stillwater. This was a big step for the town's future.
Train Travel Changes Over Time
From 1915 until the end of World War II in 1945, more and more people and goods used the trains. But by 1950, fewer people rode the trains. Many started using their own cars instead. In 1953, the Santa Fe company stopped offering passenger train service to Stillwater.
By 1958, most long-distance goods were moved by trucks on roads. Oil and other liquids were also moved through pipelines. In that year, the Santa Fe company stopped moving goods to and from Stillwater. The train station was then closed for good.
What the Stillwater Depot Looks Like
The Original Building
The oldest part of the depot is a wooden building. It is 20 feet (6.1 m) wide and 75 feet (23 m) long. This part was used as both a freight office and a passenger waiting area. On the side facing the train tracks, there were four doors and two windows. There was also a bay window with three glass panes. The outside was covered with horizontal wooden panels. The roof had three pointed sections called gables. It was covered with wooden shingles and had two brick chimneys.
The 1915 Addition
In 1915, the railroad built a new part next to the old building. This new section was 100 feet (30 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. Its outside walls were made of red brick. It also had some stone and wood decorations. The north end of this new part was left open. This created an open-air waiting room for passengers. This new section also had a gable roof. It was covered with green-glazed terra cotta tiles. The roof edges extended out beyond the walls.
At the same time, the original 1900 building was changed. The bay window was replaced with a double door. The old ticket window and another door were covered up. A brick sidewalk goes all around the building. It also extends 200 feet (61 m) further north. These bricks are the same as those used for the 1915 building's walls. The entire depot property is less than one acre in size.
The Depot Today
Saving a Piece of History
In 1991, a long-time Stillwater resident named Leon Wood read an article. It said the old train station would be sold to the highest bidder. He gathered four other people. They decided to raise money to buy the building. They asked the city to buy it temporarily. They hoped the city would hold it until someone could take permanent ownership. This would help save the historic building. However, the city decided not to buy it.
The group then met with a bank official. They made the same offer. The banker agreed to a temporary loan. This allowed them to make a bid, which was accepted. Within two weeks, Wood's group met with leaders from Kappa Kappa Psi (KKPsi) and Tau Beta Sigma (TBS). KKPsi is a national fraternity for band members. TBS is a national sorority for band members.
A New Home for National Organizations
These two organizations shared an office on the OSU campus. They were already looking for a new main office off campus. The old train station was perfect for them. Only small changes were needed inside to make it suitable for offices. A deal was quickly made. This took away the financial responsibility from Wood and his group. Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma still use the old depot as their national headquarters today. It's a great example of adaptive re-use, giving an old building a new life.
