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 the last stop on the Sumpter Valley Railway. This railway line stretched about 80 miles (130 km) from Baker City to Prairie City in Oregon, USA. The train line reached Prairie City in 1910. However, it stopped running in 1933, and the station became a house. Since 1984, this old station has been home to the DeWitt Museum. The museum shows off cool railway items from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Contents
History of the Sumpter Valley Railway
Why Was the Railway Built?
The Sumpter Valley Railway company started in 1890. Its first job was to move logs from forests near Baker City to a sawmill. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber.
How the Railway Grew
By 1891, the train tracks reached McEwen, which was about 22 miles (35 km) west. At this point, the railway started carrying both people and goods. To get to more forests, the company kept building the tracks further west.
The railway reached Sumpter in 1896. Then it continued to other towns like Whitney, Tipton, Austin, and Bates. Finally, in 1910, the train arrived in Prairie City. Prairie City was a town known for ranching and mining.
Why the Railway Closed Down
About ten years later, in the 1920s, more people started using cars and trucks. This meant fewer people and goods traveled by train. Because of this, the railway began to lose money. In 1933, the 20 miles (32 km) of track between Prairie City and Bates were no longer used.
From 1933 until 1973, the old Prairie City train station was used as a home. 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 helps protect important historical places.
DeWitt Museum: What Can You See?
Becoming a Museum
In 1984, the City of Prairie City took over the building. They decided to use it for the DeWitt Museum. The museum is a great place to learn about the area's history.
Railway and Mining History
The museum has many interesting items from the railway. You can see old lanterns, lights, and other tools used on trains. There are also photographs that show train accidents and what life was like along the railway.
Besides railway items, the museum also has a collection of rocks and minerals. You can also see old family photo albums and tools from mining in Grant County around the early 1900s.
See also
- List of Oregon railroads
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Oregon
- List of museums in Oregon
