Vision to Reality: Monroe's New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight Depot

1. Presented by Daniel J. Sheets Digital Creative Director | Chief Photographer | Writer | Editor | Blogger | Social Media Specialist | Web Designer Follow Me spdigitalmedia.com dan@spdigitalmedia.com spdigitalmediapro spdigitalmedia1 slideshare.net/DanSheets instagram.com/spdigitalmedia flickr.com/photos/danieljsheets spdigitalmedia.com/Blog/blog.html linkedin.com/company/sp-digital-media Southern Pacific Railroad’s South Benton Community Museum Depot in Monroe, OR - 1915

2. Broadleaf Architecture View from Highway 99 of the proposed new Monroe Community Library Courtesy of Broadleaf Architecture

3. Broadleaf Architecture Main entry, looking north, of the proposed new Monroe Community Library Courtesy of Broadleaf Architecture

4. Broadleaf Architecture Main Library Space of the proposed new Monroe Community Library Courtesy of Broadleaf Architecture

8. • • • • • • • • Introduction Monroe Library Facts Maps of Monroe & the Railroad Monroe’s Railroad History & Facts Images of the Railroad & Vicinity (1910-2012) New Library Construction (June 2012-May 2013) Library Grand Opening Ceremony (June 2013) Before & After the New Library Construction • Acknowledgments & Dedications

9. PURPOSE • The initial purpose of this project, “Vision to Reality: Monroe’s New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight Depot,” was to pass time during a period of unemployment. Over the weeks and months that followed, I captured over 10,000 images of this construction and restoration project. In addition to capturing all those images, I gained a new respect for this community and everyone who contributed to bringing this vision to reality. The new building was more than just a library, it symbolized the community’s commitment to its past, present and future. As a result my purpose changed from just capturing images to documenting and sharing a remarkable piece of local history. SCOPE • The scope of this project is to document the construction of the new Monroe Community Library and restoration of the former Southern Pacific Railroad’s freight depot from the perspective of local railroad history and preservation. DEDICATION • This project is dedicated to the residents of Monroe, Oregon and the surrounding South Benton community. We have the unique opportunity to walk into a new library that celebrates our community’s past, present and future.

10. • • • • • • • • • Introduction Monroe Library Facts Maps of Monroe & the Railroad Monroe’s Railroad History & Facts Images of Railroad Depot & Vicinity (1910-2012) New Library Construction (June 2012-May 2013) Library Grand Opening Ceremony (June 2013) Before & After the New Library Construction Acknowledgments & Dedications

11. • • • • • • • According to Oregon Library Association standards, the former library was about onethird the recommended size for its service area. About 3,200 people visited each month compared to 800 patrons in 2002. Beginning in 2007, through fundraising, grants and private donations about $2.4 million was raised for the new library project. The previous library, pictured, at 668 Commercial Street, was 1,250 square feet. The new library is a 7,500 square foot building located at 380 N. 5th Street; 4,700 square feet will be used for the library. The new library encompasses elements of both old and new including the 1913-built Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot. An agricultural distributor, Wilbur-Ellis, donated the depot and the City of Monroe donated vacant land to build it. General contractor was 2G Construction of Eugene and Ed Vaughn was project manager. Corvallis Gazette Times • The architect of the new library, Lori Stephens, drew her inspiration for the library from the Goracke building, north of Monroe on Hwy. 99. • It includes a branch of the Benton County library system and space for community meetings. • The City of Monroe owns the new library and Benton County provides the staff and books. • Construction on the library began on June 19, 2012; the new library opened on May 14, 2013.

13. Southern Pacific Railroad‟s Portland Division, January 1921 Note: Wide angle view of Lower Westside Branch between Corvallis and Eugene highlighted in black.

14. Southern Pacific Railroad‟s Portland Division, January 1921 Note: Bird‟s eye view of Lower Westside Branch between Eugene & Corvallis highlighted in black.

15. Portland & Western Railroad‟s Bailey District, December 1, 2000 Note: Bird‟s eye view of Lower Westside Branch between Corvallis, Monroe & Dawson highlighted in solid blue. Map Courtesy of Portland & Western Railroad.

16. Map Courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad; Map Markers by SP Digital Media

17. Map Courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad; Map Markers by SP Digital Media

19. In 1908, Stephen Carver’s Corvallis & Alsea River Railroad Company extended tracks 30 miles south from Corvallis to Monroe, Alpine and Glenbrook. Originally he intended the railroad to continue to Alsea and on to the Pacific Coast, however the Panic of 1909 prevented Carver from securing adequate credit to complete the Corvallis & Alsea River Railroad in this way. -- From Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways by Edwin D. Culp

20. In 1911, Alvadore Welch purchased the line from Stephen Carver and renamed it Portland, Eugene & Eastern Railroad Company. Welch also acquired the streetcar systems of Salem, Albany, West Linn and Eugene with the bold idea of using these lines as the nucleus for an electric railroad between Portland and San Francisco. This plan would never come to fruition and, in 1912, Welch sold the line to Southern Pacific Railroad. -- From Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways by Edwin D. Culp

21. South Benton Community Museum Newspaper articles courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

22. South Benton Community Museum Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

23. South Benton Community Museum Large white house on left is the second Wilhelm House circa 1920. The original house was also located on the left, just beyond the new house. Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

24. © 2011 Google Maps Large white house on left is the second Wilhelm House in September 2011. The original house was also located on the left, just beyond the new house. Courtesy of Google Maps, Monroe, OR

25. • Monroe’s depot was built by Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad in 1913 and originally measured 25 by 138 feet; • It appears to be a modified SP Style Combination Type 23 depot, which included a passenger station, restrooms, ticket agent’s counter in southern third of the building, and a baggage room in the northern two-thirds of the structure; • Initially, beginning in 1913, passenger service was offered daily between Corvallis and Eugene (via Monroe, Transfer and Blair). • Passenger service ceased with the Red Electrics’ demise in 1932; • ICC approved abandonment of 11.099 miles of the Lower Westside Branch on September 20, 1935 between Transfer and Cheshire. Rails were removed in 1936. • On April 20, 1950, the ICC approved abandoning 3.822 miles of the Alpine Branch between Bailey Junction and Glenbrook.

26. • With rail traffic on the decline, SP’s application to abandon 9.06 miles of the Lower Westside Branch between Cheshire (MP 662.44) and Monroe (MP 671.48) was approved on August 2, 1957. The rail was removed the following year; • After a string of ICC approved abandonments, beginning in 1935 and concluding in 1957, this left only the line from Corvallis to Monroe and Alpine Jct. to Dawson in service; • The passenger portion of the depot was torn down in 1968; • SP continued operating the Lower Westside Branch until Willamette & Pacific took over operations in February 1993; • The freight portion of the depot remained intact and in place for use by railroad shippers, including Wilbur Ellis, until 2007; • In March 2007, the depot was moved 300 yards north from its original location, at 555 Depot St., to Ash St. & Highway 99.

27. • Portland & Western Railroad’s last freight train served the Lower Westside Branch, including Monroe, in May 2007; • On September 9, 2011 the STB granted UP’s request to abandon 17.86 miles of the Lower Westside & Bailey Branch; • On June 20, 2012, crews from 2G Construction began work on the new Monroe Community Library at the new site of the depot and the groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 29, 2012; • The freight depot was incorporated as a wing of the new library, which was completed in May 2013. It coincided with the 100th anniversary of the depot and driving of the last golden spike; • Benton County purchased the Lower Westside & Bailey Branch right-of-way on October 1, 2013 from Union Pacific for $486,000; • On January 27, 2014, SRC Industries arrived in Monroe, at Kelly & North 6th Streets, near the original location of the railroad depot to begin scrapping the Lower Westside & Bailey Branches.

29. Edwin D. Culp’s Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways & South Benton Community Museum Corvallis & Alsea Railroad‟s Chief Engineer traveling over the Bailey Branch, arrived at Bailey Junction, in his car equipped with flange wheels. On the left, the line goes to Alpine and Glenbrook. And, to the right, it veers off to Bellfountain and Dawson; Courtesy of Stations West, The Story of the Oregon Railways

32. South Benton Community Museum On the house track with boxcars being loaded and unloaded at the freight depot. Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

33. South Benton Community Museum McGovern was Southern Pacific Railroad‟s Willamina Station Agent prior to 1920, then Monroe‟s Station Agent from 1920-1957; Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR

35. According to Austin & Dill‟s book, titled “The Southern Pacific in Oregon Pictorial,” the passenger portion of Southern Pacific Railroad‟s Monroe depot was dismantled in 1968. The freight portion of the depot remained standing in its original location until March 2007. Early on a Sunday morning, the depot would begin a new journey for the same community it served for nearly 50 years. Ben Maxwell & South Benton Community Museum Ben Maxwell Collection & Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR – August 16, 1963

36. Ben Maxwell Collection & South Benton Community Museum Ben Maxwell Collection & Courtesy of South Benton Community Museum, Monroe, OR – August 16, 1963

44. Historic Preservation Northwest This is a foundation remnant from the bay window of the depot‟s passenger section. Courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest‟s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

45. Historic Preservation Northwest South end of depot where the passenger section was lopped off and a shallow eave was left behind. Courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest‟s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

46. Historic Preservation Northwest (Right) East side of the depot and adjacent to house track. Historic Preservation Northwest (Left) South elevation of freight depot where passenger section was removed. Both images courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest‟s 2006 Condition Assessment Report.

47. (Center) The single passage door down the stairs and out the south end of depot. Historic Preservation Northwest (Left) One of five original baggage or freight room doors with corrugated fiberglass windows. All images courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest‟s 2006 Condition Assessment Report. Historic Preservation Northwest Historic Preservation Northwest (Right) One of two fire hydrant accesses boarded up.

48. (Top Right) „Carl‟s Girl‟ graffiti in the baggage room. Historic Preservation Northwest (Left) The baggage room facing the north freight door. Courtesy of Historic Preservation Northwest. Historic Preservation Northwest (Bottom Right) The in-floor scale in the baggage room.

52. © 2007, 2012 Michelle A. Sheets © 2007, 2012 Michelle A. Sheets © 2007, 2012 Michelle A. Sheets On a Sunday morning, the depot traveled north on Highway 99, turned west onto Ash Street, and completed a 360 degree turn onto the future community library site. Courtesy of Michelle A. Sheets.

53. © 2007, 2012 Michelle A. Sheets Depot completed its 360 degree move from Highway 99 to its new location on Ash Street for the future Monroe Community Library. Courtesy of Michelle A. Sheets, Monroe, OR.

54. © 2007, 2012 Michelle A. Sheets © 2011 Google Maps The former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot at the corner of Ash & North 5th Streets (i.e. Highway 99), four years after the move. Courtesy of Google Maps.

71. © 2012 Daniel J. Sheets © 2012 Daniel J. Sheets © 2012 Daniel J. Sheets Railroad depot moved again and turned 180 degrees in preparation for the new community library construction. Passenger side of the depot now faces north.

77. Corvallis Gazette Times Courtesy of Corvallis Gazette Times – Official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Monroe Community Library - June 29, 2012

449. Monroe‟s former Southern Pacific railroad depot in 1915. The passenger portion of the depot was torn down in 1968. Compare the north entrance of the new library, below, to the original depot pictured on the left. South Benton Community Museum Although the community will never recover the passenger portion of the original depot, there are a few architectural features included in the new library that are reminiscent of the original depot including the windows, double front door and the upside down “T” beam above the north entrance. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets © 2013 Daniel J. Sheets

450. © 2001, 2014 Dan Haneckow A similar view, looking north, from WilburEllis at the Ash Street grade crossing. In 2001 (above), there were residential homes and open space to the east of the railroad. In 2013, the landscape changed with a new library and restored freight depot as a community meeting place. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets

451. A view of Monroe‟s depot in 1990, left, complete with a caboose on a local switching cars at Wilbur-Ellis. © 2001, 2014Dan © 1990, 2014 Louis Thelen Haneckow The same scene in 2014, right, now an abandoned railroad right of way. SRC Industries began scrapping the line in January 2014. As for the former Southern Pacific railroad freight depot, it was saved, moved, restored and now incorporated as a wing of the new library. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets

452. © 2001, 2014 Dan Haneckow A similar view of Monroe‟s railroad depot in 2001 (above) and 2014 (right). The image above has an engine picking up a hopper car at Wilbur-Ellis. In the image, right, the railroad is abandoned but the new library is completed incorporating the © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets freight depot in the overall design.

453. In better days when Southern Pacific Railroad operated a local train on a regular, fairly frequent schedule from Corvallis to Monroe. Image captured by Louis Thelen in 1988. © 1988, 2014 Louis Thelen Once the railroad freight depot was moved in March 2007, to be incorporated as a wing of the new Monroe Community Library, WilburEllis constructed a new building on the site of the old freight depot. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets

454. Proposed New Monroe Library & Restored SP Freight Depot at Ash & N. 5th Streets Wilbur Ellis Original Freight Depot End of the Lower Westside Branch Original Passenger Depot Location End of the House Track at Kelly & N. 6th Streets © 1988, 2014 Louis Thelen The former SP freight depot, pictured at its original location, at 555 Depot Street in Monroe. Immediately in front of it is a light green metal structure, which is built on the foundation of the original passenger portion of the depot. Courtesy of Louis Thelen.

455. Proposed New Monroe Library & Restored SP Freight Depot at Ash & N. 5th Streets Wilbur Ellis Original Freight Depot Located Here at 555 Depot Street Monroe High School Original Passenger Depot Location End of the House Track at Kelly & N. 6th Streets End of the Lower Westside Branch © 2011 Google Maps Four years after moving the former SP freight depot from 555 Depot Street to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets, here is a view of the original location of the passenger and freight depot, looking north, from Kelly & N. 6th Streets. Courtesy of Google Maps.

456. New Monroe Library & Restored SP Freight Depot at Ash & N. 5th Streets Wilbur Ellis Wilbur Ellis Original Freight Depot Located Here at 555 Depot Street Monroe High School Original Passenger Depot Location End of the Lower Westside Branch End of the House Track at Kelly & N. 6th Streets © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets Seven years after moving the depot, in March 2007, to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets, here is a view of the original location of the passenger and freight depot, looking north, from Kelly & N. 6th Streets. Note the new library just east of the railroad.

457. After the depot moved to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets in Monroe, it sat for five years while efforts were underway to raise the nearly $2.4 million to build the new library incorporating the donated depot. © 2013 Daniel J. Sheets The completed new Monroe Community Library for the grand opening ceremony and celebration on June 8, 2013. Countless citizens, politicians and press were on hand for the event dedicating the library. © 2013 Daniel J. Sheets

458. The former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot at the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets four years after the depot move in March 2007. This image was captured in September 2011. © 2011 Google Maps The former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot, located at the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets (i.e. Highway 99W) is pictured nearly 30 months later in February 2014. The depot is now restored and incorporated into the design of the new Monroe Community Library. © 2014 Daniel J. Sheets

459. BEFORE construction of the new Monroe Community Library could begin, in June 2012, the former Southern Pacific Railroad‟s freight depot was moved 300 yards from Depot Street to the corner of Ash & N. 5th Streets. This happened on March 11, 2007. This image was captured on August 8, 2012. © 2013 Daniel J. Sheets AFTER nearly a year of construction, the new Monroe Community Library was unveiled to local residents, press and politicians on June 8, 2013. The architect used images from the original passenger portion of the Monroe depot to recreate the entrance to the library.

461. • Completion of the new Monroe Community Library and renovation of the former Southern Pacific Railroad freight depot was in May 2013; • The grand opening of the new library coincided closely with the former SP depot’s 100th anniversary and driving of the last spike in Monroe on June 7, 1913; • At this time, there are no special events planned, but your humble correspondent will keep you posted.

462. • My project, “Vision to Reality: Monroe’s New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight Depot,” would not be possible without the help of a few great people. I dedicate this project to the following folks: • Lori Pelkey and Alison Gavin, Community Library Specialists, Monroe Community Library. Lori and Alison were kind, sweet and accommodating to me. • Ed Vaughn, Foreman, 2G Construction. Ed granted me exclusive access to the inside of the library. I owe him a HUGE debt of gratitude for taking the time to show me around and allowing me to document the construction. • Lori Stephens, Architect, Broadleaf Architecture. Lori designed more than just a building with four walls and a roof but a building that suits the community perfectly. • The residents of the South Benton Community.

463. • This presentation is also dedicated to Southern Pacific Railroad along with the communities and people it served. • On January 27, 2014 salvage crews from SRC Industries arrived in Monroe to dismantle and remove the rail and ties from the 18-mile Lower Westside & Bailey Branches stretching from Monroe to a location near Greenberry, Oregon and from Alpine Junction, just north of Monroe, to within 1,000 feet of the mill in Dawson, Oregon. • This presentation documents Monroe’s New Library & Restored Railroad Depot. Without the railroad, there would be no depot to restore or rejoice in its history. • Although the branch line will be removed and scrapped by Summer 2014, it will never be forgotten as long as we have images such as the one contained in this presentation. Thank you for your support!

464. Presented by Daniel J. Sheets Digital Creative Director | Chief Photographer | Writer | Editor | Blogger | Social Media Specialist | Web Designer Follow Me spdigitalmedia.com dan@spdigitalmedia.com spdigitalmediapro spdigitalmedia1 slideshare.net/DanSheets instagram.com/spdigitalmedia flickr.com/photos/danieljsheets spdigitalmedia.com/Blog/blog.html linkedin.com/company/sp-digital-media Southern Pacific Railroad’s South Benton Community Museum Depot in Monroe, OR - 1915

Vision to Reality: Monroe's New Community Library & Restored Southern Pacific (SP) Railroad Freight Depot

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