Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Passenger Station, Grinnell Iowa
- Categories:
- Iowa
- Railroad Facility
- Passenger Station
- Rock Island RR
The Grinnell depot, with its corner tower, is an atypical example of railroad architecture, retaining a certain dignity of style not often found in small-town depots. Its design incorporates the decorative in harmony with the very practical: the l½ story round tower, situated at the junction of two tracks, gave the station agent a clear view in all directions.
The first rail line (the Chicago and Rock Island) reached Grinnell in 1863 from the east. Nine years later, the Central Railroad of Iowa (eventually to become part of the Chicago Northwestern) extended its north-south route to Grinnell. Over the decades, the high volume of traffic through Grinnell on these two lines threatened to overwhelm the simple frame depot which had served since 1863. The present depot was constructed in 1892-3 in response to this situation, by a local contractor with the Rock Island Railroad.
Building Description
The Grinnell Depot is a square, l-story building of red brick, with dressed limestone from the window sills to ground level. Its most striking feature is the 1½ story round tower at the southeast corner, capped with a conical, shingled roof, and bearing a narrow decorative cornice. The hip roof of the depot, with its widely overhung eaves, is similarly covered in composition shingle. Windows are 1/1 double hung sashes. A number, however, were originally semi-circular at the top with decorative brickwork: this area has been bricked in to accommodate the square sashes. Windows in the tower bear heavy limestone lintels. A hip roofed porch extends from the south face, supported by two plain square columns. A wooden freight shed is built off the west side.
The depot has not been altered measurably since its construction.
