(Photo by Calvin Shepherd - Use By Permission)

Alderson West Virginia - A History

Alderson's Train Depot (Text from Alderson Main Street)

The   Alderson   Train   Depot   should   also   be   in   any   history   on   Alderson.   It’s   been   here   slightly   longer   than   the bridge   and   certainly   had   it   share   of   providing   service   for   freight   and   passengers.   Just   like   the   bridge,   it   has become a landmark and frequently photographed. (Click on photo for larger view) The   C&O   Railway   first   came   to   Alderson   in   1872,   then   called   Alderson’s   Ferry.   The   first   Depot   was   a transformed   boxcar   with   windows   cut   in   the   sides.   When   the   rail   was   finished   all   the   way   to   Ohio,   an inaugural   train   left   Richmond   in   1873   with   dignitaries   to   open   the   new   line.   It   stopped   in   Alderson   and   the General Manager William Wickham visited George Alderson whom he had known during the Civil War. A   freight   office   used   to   stand   where   the   parking   lot   now   is   beside   the   station.   It   was   torn   down   in   the   1960’s.      Many   have   remarked   why   the   Depot   is bright   orange.   The   first   color   of   C&O   was   orange   and   maroon   with   white   trim   to   match   the   crack   Fast   Flying   Virginian   Vestibute   Limited   train   of   that era.   It   was   then   painted   two   tone   green,   and   about   1910   was   yellow   with   terra   cotta   trim   Then   beginning   in   the   1920’s   until   1956   it   was   gray   and   later white. The   two   waiting   rooms   were   used   for   women   on   one   side   and   men   on   the   other,   then   blacks   on   one   side   and   whites   on   the   other.   Now   the   waiting room   on   the   left   is   used   for Amtrak   passengers   and   the   ticket   office   for   the   Railroad   and Alderson   Museum.   The   left   waiting   room   (Amtrak)   is   left   as   it was   renovated   in   1956   with   plywood   walls   and   Art   Deco   lights.   The   Ticket   office   has   16   ft   ceilings   and   lights   of   the   1920’s.   The   right   waiting   room, now a business, was decorated and painted as it was in 1896. The   current   standing Alderson   Depot      was   built   in   1896   and   went   out   of   service   in   1973.   It   is   the   only   remaining   standard   station   with   a   bay   window   in both the front and the back.. It was built by a C&O road crew in one week.

Main Index

Churches

The contents contained on this page is copyrighted and the sole property of Min7th Productions.

Railroads

The History of Alderson, West Virginia From Multiple Sources and Photos - Compiled and Edited by Barry Worrell

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.

About   1905   we   see   the   freight   station cluttered   with   equipment   and   baggage trucks   piled   high.   Just   beyond   the   folks are   waiting   at   the   passenger   station   for the    train    approaching    in    the    distance. Beyond   the   station   area   a   busy   lumber yard . Photo by J. W. McClung.

In   the   summer   of   1935   a   west   bound train    pauses    at    Alderson    to    conduct business.    A    passenger,    Mr.    William Monypeny,    got    of    the    train    and    took this   photo.   You   can   see   the   old   freight station on the other side of the depot.

T.     L.     Dameron     (picture-right)     was Stationmaster,   and   his   son   Frank   was Station    Agent.     When     T.     L,     retired, Frank took over.

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.      (Photo   Mr.   Bill Hakkarinen, Cockeysville, Md)

Back   to   the   original   color.   The   tarmac all around the station was resurfaced.

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.

Depot Picture Gallery - Please Click on photo for larger view.

Still    waiting    for    the    folks    to    return home for Christmas.

Rest   Rooms   were   installed.   The   depot is   now   just   a   museum   with   a   gift   shop   in the   other   end.   but   if   you   arrange   ahead, it’s possible to get the train to stop.

The   interior   of   the   depot   before furnishing were placed.

The   Railroad   was   very   important   to   the   growth   of   Alderson.   The   Monroe   House (left)   which   was   where   the   Post   Office   now   stands   was   a   favorite   meal   stop.   In 1892   the   Alderson   House   or   Alderson   Hotel   (right)   was   built   directly   across   the tracks.   In   1875   President   Grant   dined   at   the   Monroe   House.   The Alderson   House continued   housing   and   feeding   passengers   until   arrival   of   Dining   Cars   in   1889. And    speaking    of    Dining    Cars    Alderson    had    a    Dining    Car    named    after    the town.(Click on photo for larger view)