Southern Pacific Depot - Wharton, TX
Posted by: WalksfarTX
N 29° 18.824 W 096° 06.379
14R E 781052 N 3246221
Red brick combination Passenger/Freight Depot from 1914.
Waymark Code: WMRYNR
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 08/23/2016
Views: 0
City of Wharton Website
The Wharton depot represents the transition from the earlier second-generation wooden depot that preceded it, to a more substantial fireproof masonry structure. The Southern Pacific depot is significant for its location on Sunset Street, the original highway to Houston.
In 1948, passenger service was discontinued and only freight was transported. About the time that passenger service ceased at the S.P. Depot at Wharton, the depot underwent minor alterations. One of the waiting rooms was filled with wall partitions to form additional offices, and three interior masonry walls were removed to increase the size of the train operations area and the existing baggage room for shipping and receiving freight. Interior areas remodeled during this period were painted light green, in contrast to the varnished wood and red and white plaster walls of the original construction. The French tile roof was replaced with asphalt shingles and an exterior loading dock was constructed, partially built from the interior masonry walls removed to open up the interior spaces. Sometime later, a second remodeling extended the work counter.