Museum Matters

Many of us remember the Santa Fe railroad depot that once stood across the tracks from the Bigs gas station. In 1972 a train car went off the tracks and slammed right into the building. It was a beautiful building, but had to be demolished after the accident because it was too damaged. The station had a wonderful history.

In 1909, the Frisco Railroad must have been talking about putting a new train station in Dublin. Dublin was a busy stop along the line and the money generated at this location must have justified a new impressive facility. From those talks, a proposal was made to have a Dublin Union Station built right at the place where the Frisco (later Santa Fe) and the Texas Central (later the MKT) would cross making a union station that would serve both railroads. Once that station was built, a passenger could arrive on a Frisco train and then catch a Texas Central train without ever leaving the depot. (Dublin Progress, Jan. 22, 1909) Part of the proposal was to build roads to the new building site. The railroads must have wanted the roads to be built on the property they already owned. The Texas Central would require a road along their tracks from South Grafton Street heading east to the proposed site. The Frisco would build a road from east Elm Street heading south. The proposal was to build a handsome building of stone, brick or cement at the cost of $25,000 to $30,000. (Dublin Progress, Jan. 22, 1909) Though the dream was big, something along the way must have not worked out, so the Frisco decided to build a new station of their own between Blackjack and Elm Streets. The Katy (MKT) much later would build a new spectacular brick station that still stands next to the tracks on south Patrick.

The construction of the new brick Frisco depot was being completed on April 21, 1909. The interior was being hard-oiled and wired for electric lights and was expected to be ready for occupancy the first of the next week.

The train station was being constructed of red hardwick pressed brick with white cut stone trimmings. Surrounding the building was brick paving all the way around with a concrete wall holding the brick in place. The baggage room was built on the south end of the building. Next to it was the smaller waiting room. In the center of the building was the ticket office and telegraph. On the north end was the large waiting room with a separate entrance. Each of the waiting rooms were fitted with toilet facilities and in all respects were modern.

The old wooden passenger station was moved and attached to the south end of the Frisco freight station. It would later be used for office space and storage. When Jake Hamon built the Wichita Falls, Ranger and Fort Worth Railroad to Dublin, that same wooden building was used as their passenger and freight station. Many years later that freight station was used as the Poston Feed Store on east Blackjack.

In May 1909, workers started making improvements outside on the west end of the station. The new landscaping would include a park with sidewalks, flowers, shrubbery and grass. The natural trees were all trimmed nicely and other trees were to be set out, most likely Pecans and Hackberrys. A fountain would occupy the center of the park with a gravel walk around it. Four walks would radiate from it to the streets and to the depot.

Bermuda grass would be set out and curbed with concrete walks the full length on each side of the park. This would be the first park the Frisco Railroad had built on its line south of Ft. Worth and be on a grander scale than any had seen at any point along the Frisco Road. This Frisco Railroad Park was later used for public speakers when a Dublin patriotic parade was organized as the United States entered World War I.

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