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Pictorial History of the Alderson Depot |
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The
first Chesapeake & Ohio depot in Alderson is seen in this
1891
photo. It later became the freight station and was finally
demolished in 1962. Photo C&O Historical Society
Collection.
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About 1905 we see the freight station cluttered with
equipment, the passenger station just beyond with
folks waiting for the train approaching in the
distance, and baggage trucks piled high. Beyond the
station area a busy lumber yard . Photo by J. W.
McClung. |
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In the
summer of 1935 a west bound train pauses at Alderson to
conduct business and one of its passengers, William Monypeny, got of the train and took this photo.
You can see the old freight station on the other
side of the depot. |
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About this time, Tom
Roush's grandfather, T. L. Dameron
(picture-right) was the Stationmaster, and
his son Frank (pictured right) was Station Agent. Frank was
Tom Dameron's father. When T. L, retired,
Frank took over. Both T. L. and Frank
Dameron worked for C&O for 50 years. In
the photo on the left is the stationmaster’s
office with T. L. Dameron and friend. Note
the oak desk with the crank adding machine.
Also the rotary type telephone in the
background. The stationmaster sold tickets
and conducted railroad business here.
In 1957
the station was renovated and the walls were
covered with plywood and the ceiling dropped
to 9 ft. Later, when Tom Roush, Gerry
Williams and others renovated the station,
they removed all the plywood and raised the
ceiling back to the 14 ft height except the
left waiting room. The right waiting room is
like it was in 1896 when built, and the
Museum, or center ticket office is like it
was in 1920. The left waiting room is like
it was when renovated in 1957. |
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This photo
was taken about 1995 before the Depot was
repainted the original color. The paint
is pealing and the building is in bad shape. You can see
the freight wagons at this end of the
building, as if they are waiting for the
next train to stop. Those wagons are still
at the Depot and can be seen by visitors.
(Photo was supplied by Mr. Bill Hakkarinen,
Cockeysville, Md) |
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The driving
forces behind the depot restoration were Tod
Hanger, Tom and
Neta Roush, and Jerry Williams. The building is a
historic structure and a contributing element in
Alderson's National Register Historic District.
Because it has historical significance, the depot
had to be painted in the original color--C & O
orange. Grants to do all the restoration work were
secured from different organizations with the
largest coming from the West Virginia Division of
Highways' Transportation Enhancement Program. and
had to be matched with a certain percentage of
funds from Alderson Main Street These funds were
raised by denotations from private citizens and
private grants. |
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Back to the
original color. The tarmac all around the station
was resurfaced. |
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Period pieces of
furniture and paraphernalia give an air of
what it would be like to be inside the
office area in the early years. |
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Above:
Two
interior photos before furnishings. |
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Photos
courtesy: Bill Hakkarinen,
Tom Dixon, Tom Roush,
Barry Worrell, and
Margaret Hambrick |
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