Santa Fe Railroad Train Depot, Carlsbad California

Tweet

The Carlsbad Depot, constructed in 1887, was the site of Carlsbad's first commercial and public building and served continuously from 1887-1960 as Carlsbad's sole railroad stop for incoming and outgoing passengers and goods. Further, the very settlement and growth of the City of Carlsbad was the result of railroad influence along the Southern California coast. As such, the Depot has played a vital role in Carlsbad's history. Though built as transportation centers for people and freight, train depots often served other functions within a community. When it opened in 1887, the railroad shared space with the telegraph and Wells Fargo Offices. For a brief period from 1915 to 1920, it also housed the only general store in the community.

Compared to other major California cities, San Diego's first railroad line was slow in coming. San Francisco had become the terminus of the first transcontinental line in 1869. By 1876, the Southern Pacific had reached Los Angeles. In 1881, California Southern began building a line from San Diego to San Bernardino, via Oceanside and Fallbrook. The coming of the railroad and the subsequent rate wars between the two railroad giants, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific, caused a huge population boom and speculative land development throughout the San Diego area.

The California Southern, with its link to a transnational railroad, proved crucial to the transformation of the San Diego region from a sparsely populated farming community with little to no direct outlet to a series of small cities of emerging industry, mercantile and agricultural expansion. The tremendous wealth bestowed on the railroads by the government gave extraordinary power to the men who controlled the lines. The Northern-Pacific, Southern Pacific and Santa Fe railroads all received land grants of up to 20 square miles for every mile of track laid. They hoped to sell these granted lands and increase rail usage by spurring population growth. Potential land investors were given cheap transportation. Advertising in the form of excessive accolades dominated the presses of the east and Europe. Advertisement by the railroads began the myths of the "good life" and "Eden on earth" that are still perpetuated in relation to the Southern California Coast.

The California Southern Railroad was first put into service to Carlsbad in 1881. Its chosen route determined the very origin of the town. The California Southern was organized in 1880 by Tom Nickerson following Frank Kimball's successful negotiations with Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (AT&SF). In 1881, they built a yard and station in National City on land that Kimball had donated. By this date, seven firms had contracted to grade thirty sections of the railroad. Pay was $1.75/day, and by May the local newspaper reported that between 1500 and 2000 men were working on grading different portions of the line. The completion of the line needed the construction of 241 wooden bridges to bypass the natural barriers along the coast. The iron rails were purchased in Europe and brought around the horn so that the Southern Pacific could not interfere with delivery. Tracks reached Fallbrook in January of 1882. By 1882, operations were blocked in Colton, and Santa Fe took control of the line. The line over Cajon Pass washed out several times and after 1891 was not rebuilt. Instead, the "Surf Line" was constructed from San Diego to the north, providing a more direct link between San Diego and Los Angeles.

By 1889, the California Southern, the Central California, and the "Surf Line" became know as Southern California Railroad entirely owned by Santa Fe. After 1906, the lines only carried the Santa Fe name. Over the years, Santa Fe built depots in National City, San Diego, Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido and Fallbrook.

The current wood frame Carlsbad Santa Fe Depot, measuring 24' x 64', was built in 1887, replacing the open shed country station that had served the area since 1881. The first station master was John Fauncher, who began his duties prior to the completion of the Depot. The coming of the railroad and the subsequent rate wars caused a huge population boom and speculative land development throughout Southern California. The Carlsbad Depot was in continuous operation from 1887-1957 as a passenger station bringing settlers and tourists. The line linked the Southern California coast with Les Angeles and through transfers, with the rest of the nation. From 1887-1960 the Depot also served as the only freight station in Carlsbad. Thus allowing catalog houses, merchandise and goods to enter the community and, when a secure water source was created, the exporting of vegetables, fruits and world-famous bulbs and flowers.

Similar architecture was used on other local stations of the era. The stop was originally known as Frazier's Station, referring to the man who in 1883, homesteaded the area and through drilling discovered the famous mineral springs. For a time, it only served as a brief watering spot. Frazier, before moving here, had lived in Los Angeles and was founder and director of the Los Angeles' Good Samaritan Mission. His previous humanitarian role with the Mission carried into his new life and he offered sips of his water to the railroad tourists. Many of them returned to their homes with claims of having been cured of long-standing ailments after tasting the Carlsbad waters. By 1884, a small farming area and cluster of homes had sprung up around the springs and Depot. During the height of the land boom, thousands of passengers were travelling to the San Diego area, passing and eventually stopping at Frazier's Station. Fame regarding the curative powers of these waters spread and, within three years, Frazier's Station became a destination in itself. Between 1886-1888, the Southern California land boom caused by a competitive railway system reached its peak.

In 1886, four Nebraska immigrants, among them Gerhard Schutte and Samuel Church Smith, eager to invest and enticed by railroad promotion, arrived in the area. They organized the Carlsbad Land and Mineral Company to develop the area's mineral water potential. They immediately purchased Frazier's land plus surrounding acreage totaling 400 acres and laid out the townsite of Carlsbad with the railroad line as the center. The promoters had the mineral waters tested and because of the similarities with curing waters in Carlsbad, Bohemia, they named the new town Carlsbad. By 1887, a town had developed centered around the railroad. The general north San Diego County area became a haven for primarily rich but landless English and immigrants from the Midwest. Hotels were built adjacent to the railroad and by 1888, the Depot had been constructed to replace the original shed. The hotels were large Late Victorian structures and the small, almost "home-like" Depot served as the entrance to the City. Hundreds of visitors from the U.S. and Europe were drawn to the area by the advertising of the railroad and speculators who touted Carlsbad as both a health resort and the ideal community for retiring or raising a family.

National depression and drought in the beginning years of the 1890s caused the total collapse of the majority of land boom era cities. Although Carlsbad remained on the map, population drastically dropped and the community, like most in California, entered a near thirty year period of little growth (1890-1914). Over the years, the railroad provided the only secure link to the outside world and supplies. In 1907, Santa Fe changed the station name to "Carl" to differentiate it from Carlsbad, New Mexico, it did not regain its name until 1917. During the early years of the 20^th century, freight costs for shipments of goods from Los Angeles were as low as $0.75 per 500 lbs. Again, the railroads were attempting to entice people to travel and ship by rail. The Depot housed the station offices, the post office, and from 1915 to 1920, a grocery store, operated by then station master R. G. Chase, the Wells Fargo Office and the telegraph office.

With the advent of piped water into Carlsbad in 1915, the agricultural potential of the area was realized and Carlsbad entered a period of rapid growth. The railroad Depot became a focal point for carrying the cash crops away to markets in the north and south. By the early 1920's bulb and flower production soared in the area. These products were shipped via rail throughout the United States. Carlsbad became world famous for its Bird of Paradise and bulbs. The growing popularity of the automobile and the upgrading of roads through the 1920s and 30s added continued pressure to the stability of the railroad. Following World War II, a decline in rail travel nationwide was evident; passenger service at Carlsbad was discontinued in 1957; the Depot was officially closed in 1960.

During its 73-year use as a passenger and/or freight depot (1887-1957 passenger; 1887-1960), and the ensuing 32 years as a core building within a growing community, the Depot has retained its physical appearance as its functions at times varied. After initial construction the Depot served as the telegraph and post office, Wells Fargo Express Office and general store. After all service was discontinued, the Model Railroad Club occupied the building for three years. In March of 1963, the building was leased to the City of Carlsbad for $1 per year. Ten months later, the Depot was donated to the City. In May of 1966, it was sublet to the Depot Restoration Committee for minor roof repairs. In the recent past the structure has housed the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau and Carlsbad Historical Society Archives.

Building Description

The Carlsbad Santa Fe Depot, a combination station of Folk Victorian/Carpenter Gothic Style is located on its original site along the eastern side of the railroad tracks between Elm Avenue (Carlsbad Village Drive) and Grand Avenue in the City of Carlsbad, California. It was designed in 1887 by Santa Fe Railroad architect Fred R. Perris as a one-story wooden structure roughly rectangular in plan view (24' x 64') with steeply pitched cross gables and long sweeping extensions which create a wide overhang around the periphery of the building. The structural form was pre-determined by its historic function and technologies of construction. The structure served as a passenger/freight depot form 1887 until 1960.

The only changes to the original fabric of the Depot, other than painting, occurred during an award-winning 1987 renovation. The Carlsbad Depot still retains the majority of its original form and design elements. Still on its original site, the Depot has been maintained and the structure still reflects its original purpose. The basic Plan, shape, reef configuration, materials and nature of the Depot's use all contribute a cohesive architectural statement to the streetscape and surrounding community plan. Renovations were made in materials compatible with the original, including return to its original colors.

In form, the Depot is a one-story wooden structure roughly rectangular in plan view (24' x 64') with steeply pitched cross gables and long sweeping extensions which create a wide over-hang around the periphery of the building. An approximate 10' wide raised platform extends the length of the north elevation and the northern one-half of the east and west elevations. Originally the interior was divided into five spaces: a slightly elevated area on the north end that was used for freight storage (24' x 17'), a small office (17' x 14') an the agents room (17' x 6') within the central area and the passenger waiting area (18.6' x 12') and baggage area (12'x 16') along the southern end. During the 1987 renovation, the baggage area was made into bathrooms, and a storage area was created within a portion of the original freight house. The overall footprint of the Depot has not changed since its original 1887 construction. Before 1913, the surrounding station area contained a separate 92' long platform, a mail stand, and a water closet (privy). The mail stand was a standard pained Pierce mail crane. Plans for the privy indicate that it was approximately 8' x 13' with a single and lattice-bordered high hipped roof. Sides were 1" x 8" drop siding and the floor 1" x 4" tongue and groove. The Depot itself was styled after similar depots in Encinitas and Elsinore.

The Depot is classified as a "combination station". The term station refers to the Depot, the surrounding yards, side tracks and any associated outbuildings. There were three basic concepts for station design, each had to accommodate the position of the building to the tracks, pathways of arrival and departure, distance allowances for directional trains and covered Passenger area. Typically, there are "country stations", "combination stations" and "union stations". The country station was usually a small box-like room providing a part-time office for one person. (This is the type of station that would have been at Fraiser's (Carlsbad) prior to 1887). The combination station usually had three rooms (an office, a room for Passengers, and a room for freight). They often had bay windows or at least a track-side protrusion (i.e. Carlsbad, Vista, Del Mar). The union stations were the largest and meant to serve several lines.

Although renovated in 1987, the following description applies to both original historical elements and current appearance. Wall Treatment: The exterior contains horizontal shiplap wood siding painted cream with dark green as trim accent. The building has eighteen-foot ceilings with nine foot high doors. Roof: The roof is a steeply pitched cross-gable with boxed pediment and a decorated boxed cornice with frieze. An oval decorative element and stick work with horizontal venting element appear under the gables. There is roof cresting along peak and sheet metal flashing. The long, sweeping extension from the eaves create a wide overhang. Massive lattice-worked braces, evenly spaced around the entire periphery of the building, extend from wall to roof to below window transoms. CHIMNEY: The Depot contains two interior chimneys which extend from top of roof. They are plain in design and composed of brick. WINDOWS: The Depot contains tall, narrow Victorian-style nine-light windows (large central light with sash divisions near edges). These occur as singles, doubles and triplets. Vertical strips extending beyond top and bottom of window lengths serve to "frame" them. Sixteen light transoms occur above. DOORS: Wood slab doors and large sliding doors for freight area. DECKING: Extending the entire northern length of the building and approximately one-half the length of the east and west elevations is a wooden deck composed of 2" x 2" supported by 4" x 4" redwood posts.

In 1987, through a State Historic Preservation Grant supplemented by individual donations, Wayne Donaldson, a noted architect in historic preservation and restoration, supervised the Depot restoration. No documented changes to either the interior or exterior of the building had occurred before this date. Exterior work involved restoring the exterior of the building to its original colors, installation of a new fire retardant wood shingle roof, replacement of roof cresting, exterior stairs and broken window panes, repair of existing wood louvers, replacement with in-kind missing/deteriorated boards of the freight deck and wheelchair access, plumbing and electrical upgrades to code, installation of new railing, reinforcement of existing masonry chimney below ridge line and repainting of existing "Carlsbad" Depot sign. Interior changes occurred in the southeast corner where restrooms were upgraded. The 1987 restoration of the Depot demonstrated meticulous attention to detail and only where necessary were portions of original siding, window panes, freight decking and detailing replaced.