Dallas Depot of the H. & T. C.

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of the Dallas Depot of the Houston and Texas Central. Back in July of 1872, the Houston and Texas Central became the first railroad to reach Dallas. The first.

In a city that would one day be one of the great crossroads of the American South, the H. and T. C. punched through first, and that is no small thing. Now, the depot we're talking about didn't come along right away.

This frame depot was constructed in 1903, built to serve both the H. and T. C. and the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. By that point, both of those lines were running under the same big umbrella, the Southern Pacific system.

So this wasn't just some local whistle-stop. This was Southern Pacific country. Originally the depot sat on Eakin Street, about a mile and a quarter to the west of where it stands today.

For years it did what a passenger station does, welcomed travelers, saw them off, held that particular electricity that train stations hold. It served as a passenger station all the way until 1918. Then the passengers stopped coming through, and the building changed its role.

It became a yardmaster's office, and it kept right on working in that capacity until 1963. Now here's where the story takes a turn. Demolition came knocking.

Somebody looked at that old frame structure and figured its time was up. But it wasn't. Instead of coming down, the depot was moved.

Picked up, relocated, brought to this very site. A building that survived the end of passenger rail, survived being reassigned, and then survived the wrecking ball itself. Some things in Texas just refuse to quit.

What the marker says

In July 1872 the Houston & Texas Central became the first railroad to reach Dallas. This frame depot was constructed for the H. & T.C. and the Texas & New Orleans in 1903, when both lines were part of the Southern Pacific system. Originally located on Eakin Street (1.25 mi. W), this structure served as a passenger station until 1918 and as yardmasters office until 1963. Threatened with demolition, it was then moved to this site. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1979