Sumpter Valley Railway Passenger Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sumpter Valley Railway Passenger Station
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Former station, home of DeWitt Museum
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| Location | Depot Park, South Main Street and South Bridge Street |
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| Nearest city | Prairie City, Oregon |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Stick/Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000483 |
| Added to NRHP | May 5, 1981 |
The Sumpter Valley Railway Passenger Station was once the last stop on a special train line. This railway, called the Sumpter Valley Railway, stretched about 80 kilometers (50 miles) across Oregon. It connected Baker City to Prairie City.
The train line reached Prairie City in 1910. However, it stopped running in 1933. After that, the station building became a home. Since 1984, this old station has been the DeWitt Museum. It shows off cool railway items from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Contents
The Story of the Sumpter Valley Railway
The Sumpter Valley Railway started in 1890. Its main job was to carry logs from forests near Baker City to a sawmill. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber. This railway was a "narrow gauge" line, meaning its tracks were closer together than regular train tracks.
By 1891, the railway had reached McEwen, about 22 kilometers (14 miles) west. At this point, it began carrying both people and goods. To reach more forests, the company slowly made the line longer. It got to Sumpter in 1896. Then it kept going southwest to towns like Whitney and Bates.
Finally, in 1910, the railway arrived in Prairie City. This town was a busy place for ranching and mining. It was located on the John Day River in Grant County.
Why the Railway Stopped Running
About ten years after reaching Prairie City, the railway started to lose customers. More and more people began using cars and trucks. These new ways of travel were faster and more flexible. Because of this, the railway couldn't make enough money.
In 1933, the 20 kilometers (12 miles) of track between Prairie City and Bates were taken out. The train station in Prairie City then became a house until 1973. Later, a group called the Sumpter Valley Depot Restoration Committee fixed up the building. In 1981, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical buildings in the United States.
Discoveries at the DeWitt Museum
In 1984, the City of Prairie City took over the old station. They turned it into the DeWitt Museum. This museum is a great place to learn about the railway's past.
The museum has many interesting things. You can see old train lanterns and lights. There are also photographs that show what life was like along the railway. Other parts of the museum display rocks and minerals. You can also find old family photo albums and tools from mining in Grant County around the early 1900s.
More to Explore
- List of Oregon railroads
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Oregon
- List of museums in Oregon
