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Show Domorioo oEjound of Jilvort Donoi With the announcement of the demolition of theMllford Depot last Friday, betwixt discussions of how to preserve pre-serve the unique architectural architec-tural landmark, many memories have been revived. re-vived. Many local citizens have taken a tour through the 58 year old structure, and if you happen to be near an old timer, you can hear 1 remember when', repeated repeat-ed time and time again. Being a railroad town, most are familiar with every nook and cranny. And many families are third and fourth generation railroaders, who have worked In and out, and around the Depot. There are many memories, good and bad. But to a person, there is a fondness and pride In the Milford Depot that eminates from the day con. struction was started June 6, 1923. This account from the Beaver County News, June 1, 1923 relates a little of what is remembered: "Word was received by Floyd Casterline, Union Pacific Pa-cific agent at Milford, naming nam-ing rates on equipment, material ma-terial and supplies consigned consign-ed to H.W. Baum, contractor engaged in the erection of a station building at Milford. It was good news to the people peo-ple of Milford who were anxious anx-ious to see another Depot built to replace the one that had been destroyed by fire in February. On June 6, 1923 the first shovel full of dirt was turned. Two days later teams and men were swarming around the location loca-tion of what was to be the new Milford Depot. The building proper was to be 222 feet long' and 72 feet wide, with an annex for a boiler room, bakery and laundry. The walls of the building were to be built entirely of hollow tile.then covered with Stucco. The roof is to be covered with Spanish MisslonTlle In vari-gated vari-gated colors. The north end of the building is occupied by express ex-press office and baggage room. South of this is the -waiting room, ticket office and lavatories. Then a stairway stair-way which leads to the offices upstairs. South of the stairway stair-way is the big lunch room, then the office, newsstand news-stand and stairway. Back of the stair is the kitchen and refrigerators. Leading back from the kitchen is covered passageway which connects to the bakery. The entire south end of the building is occupied by the dining room. One of the most beautiful dining rooms in the state. A large colonade extends across each end of the building, and nearly all the way to the front. The brick platform between the train tracks and the building is very extensive exten-sive and required 125,-000 125,-000 brick to construct, a row of beautiful light posts decorates each end of the .platform. The contract for the building build-ing was let to H.W. Baum Co., and work started the first week in June and the building was accepted by the engineers for the railroad on November 1, 1923. The cost of the building was about $200,000 which with the cost of platform, lighting and heating items, hotel furnishings furnish-ings and electrical equipment equip-ment brings the total Investment Invest-ment up to approximately $250,000. A combination celebration of the fifth observance of the Armistice and the Open House of the newly completed complet-ed Depot was held November Novem-ber 12, 1923. It was a gala occasion for the whole county. Over 2,000 attended at-tended the celebration, which included music, programs, refreshments, barbeque, and dancing. The platform and inside of the waiting room provided the dance floor, with music by a lOcal orcliestraj Many other stori6s lA the County News have covered incidents, remodeling, and changes in train schedules, and festivities, right up to the 100 years of Railroading Railroad-ing celebrated in Milford last July 2 and 3 with a gala celebration, and Union pacific Family Days. The Depot has been' important im-portant to milford, but to railroaders from provo.Salt Lake, Ogden, Lyniidyl, Cali-ente, Cali-ente, Cedar City, and Las Vegas, the Milford Depot was home away from home. They, more than any others, except those working directly direct-ly in the depot, were most familiar with it's every nook and cranny. But the Milford Depot is known up and down the line from Los Angeles to Omaha, from Denver to Portland, and anywhere on the U.P. line. Passenger, too, remember remem-ber the Depot, especially those from the days when there were as many as eight or nine passenger trains a day stopping in Milford. Most remember the fabu-.lous fabu-.lous dining room, chandeliers, chande-liers, and good food. Later there was the Beanery. Milford Mil-ford was an important railroad rail-road hub in those days, and still is. The Milford Depot was the center of that activity. ac-tivity. Can a new modern building take its place? What will happen to the nostalgia of nearly 60 years of railroading. railroad-ing. It's predecessor was destroyed by fire. Will this magnificent structure die at the hand of It's maker? |