Depot Formally Opened - Newport, WA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 48° 10.658 W 117° 02.663
11U E 496700 N 5336044
Standing beside another railway depot built by the competition, this one time Great Northern Depot has become the property of a private concern, the Stimson Lumber Company, serving as offices.
Waymark Code: WMXX20
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 03/10/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member saopaulo1
Views: 0

Though the Great Northern Railway's main line running from Chicago to Seattle was completed in 1893, the Newport depot was not completed until 1910, leading us to believe that this was a replacement for an older depot. The Great Northern had reached Newport in 1892, the first passenger rolling into town on May 28, 1892, and certainly a depot would have been built around that time. Newport, however, had no post office until 1901 and wasn't incorporated as a town until 1903. In 1912, a year after Pend Oreille County was carved out of the northeast corner of Stevens County, Newport became the official county seat.

This depot served the town until May 1, 1971, when Newport’s Great Northern rail service came to an end, with the last westbound GN train between Newport and Spokane leaving, never to return.

Following is an account of the grand opening of the depot, from the Newport Miner.
DEPOT FORMALLY OPENED
Large crowd Attended the Opening Exercises.

Newport Proud of New Building


The Newport Miner | December 08, 1910, Page 1
Tuesday, Dec. 6. the date of the dedication of the new Great Northern depot at Newport, marks another step in the development of the town and its progress toward the commanding position to which it is entitled by virtue of its location and the wealth of tributary resources.

The dedication of the new depot was held under the auspices cf the Commercial club, and the arrangements made by officials of the club were carried out in a very successful manner. A general invitation had been extended to the citizens of the town to participate, and they responded to the extent that the spacious waiting rooms were able to accommodate but a portion of those desiring attendance...

...Mr Chester, in his address, told of the difficulties encountered in the building and operation of a great transcontinental railroad like the Great Northern, and asked the cooperation of the people of the town in assisting the local employees in keeping the building as clean and inviting as on the occasion of its dedication. He said that Newport had the best depot of any town more than twice its size on the Great Northern system, that the road had built the depot in anticipation of future needs, and that its expectation was that the town would grow in population and wealth to warrant the large expenditure made by the road at this point. Mr. Chester's remarks were well received and liberally applauded.

A souvenir booklet, issued by the Commercial Club, was distributed, containing a photographic reproduction and description of the new depot, and illustrating and pointing out some of the resources and advantages of the town and tributary territory.

At the conclusion of the program those present inspected the new building and a dance was given in the freight room, which was largely attended...
From the Newport Miner
Type of publication: Newspaper

When was the article reported?: 12/08/1910

Publication: Newport Miner

Article Url: [Web Link]

Is Registration Required?: no

How widespread was the article reported?: local

News Category: Business/Finance

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