Renewed interest in depot’s renovation
There’s been a recent resurgence of excitement and activity at the Red Oak Burlington Northern Depot and World War II Memorial Museum.
A new group of volunteers has been organizing and knocking out projects on the historically significant structure at 305 S. Second St.
Overgrown shrubs have been removed, cracked and unnecessary pavement removed, sorting, cleaning, painting and organizing, are being completed under a flurry of activity.
This is the second train depot in Red Oak, the first a smaller, less extravagant structure near the current rail yard off Broadway Ave. Surveyor for the railroad, Colonel A. Hebard, wrote in his diary he had worked five of the hardest weeks of his life mapping out the rail line in southwest Iowa because of the steep hills, deep valleys and few occupants. However, he also fell in love with the area and returned in 1874, building a house that still stands today on 8th Street.
Once the railroad was mapped through Red Oak Junction, the town began and quickly prospered; becoming the county seat. When railroad officials wanted a new line for the CB&Q, a “highline” was decided upon, which meant raising the line 30-feet to level the hilltops and lessen the grades. Moving the line meant moving the depot, where it could now overlook the community from its hill.
Construction started on the new depot in 1900, and it was completed three years later. Having a rail line before there were cars meant accessibility for the importing and exporting of materials, people, livestock, and equipment.
More than 3,000 people flocked to the depot to see President Theodore Roosevelt, and later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor. The depot also served as the place where thousands of tearful good byes took place, whether it was for servicemen in the Spanish-American War, World War I or World War II. Many of the good byes said in the depot were final ones, such as those in Company M, 34th Division trapped by German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in the Faid Pass, Tunisia in 1943.
More than 1,100 active duty soldiers from Montgomery County served in WWII, which makes it only fitting the depot also serves as a WWII Memorial Museum.
As vehicles became more economical and efficient, the rail line empire decreased. Passenger service ended in Red Oak in 1971 and by 1991, officials with Burlington Northern applied for a demolition permit. It was then Jackie Adams become involved and worked tirelessly to save the depot. The building was donated to the community in 1995. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Over the past 24 years, countless hours of work have been done on the interior and exterior of the depot, including new windows, updated electrical, plumbing, insulation, tuck pointing and woodwork renovation.
Jackie’s husband, Lynn Adams, has been a mainstay at the depot for the past two decades, but in his mid 80s, he can’t do the heavy lifting as he used to. Thankfully, there are people with renewed vigor like Jolene and Pete Crawford, Liza Beam, Mark and Marcia Benda, and Scott Wilson and The Green Tree Company, to name a few, dedicated to complete the project.
The depot and museum, once completed, will be available for reunions, receptions, conferences, tours, and other social events. To learn more about the depot, volunteer to help, or donate funds to help with its renovation, go to depothill.net.
The year 2019 is the sesquicentennial of the railway extending across southwest Iowa to the Missouri River, which is why so many towns in southwest Iowa are celebrating their sesquicentennials as well.
Despite Burlington Northern no longer needing a depot in Red Oak, it, and Amtrack, still utilize the tracks several times an hour and BNSF has a