San Antonio & Aransas Pass Passenger Train Depot

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Passenger Train Depot in Kerr County. Now settle in, because this story starts with a railroad decision and ends with a building that simply refused to go away. Back in 1887, Kerrville got itself chosen as the last stop on the SA&AP Railroad.

The last stop. End of the line. And with that designation came a flood, a genuine influx of travelers and trade that the little town had to be ready for.

So they put up a wood depot, four blocks west of where that marker stands today, and for a good while it did its job. But here's the thing about wood depots and the years between them. The original depot burned in 1913.

Just gone. Now, a lesser town might have wrung its hands, but Kerrville had people with land and a mind to deal. A lumberyard owner by the name of Frank J.

Beitel sold the SA&AP a portion of his land, and what rose up in its place was something considerably more permanent. The 1915 brick depot was no afterthought. Arched doorways at the main entrance, an open-air platform, a central ticket counter, storage, and two waiting rooms warmed by wood-burning stoves.

They built it right. And you want proof? Those original windows, with their wavy glass, they're still there.

That wavy glass has been looking out on Kerrville since 1915, and it hasn't stopped yet. Train service itself discontinued in 1970, but the depot didn't sit idle. It went right on serving the community, this time as a restaurant and retail space.

Some buildings just know they have more to do.

What the marker says

In 1887, Kerrville was chosen as the last stop on the SA&AP Railroad. A wood depot was erected four blocks west of here to accommodate the large influx of travelers and trade. The original depot burned in 1913. Lumberyard owner Frank J. Beitel sold the SA&AP a portion of his land for a new depot. The 1915 brick depot's design incorporated arched doorways at the main entrance and open-air platform, a central ticket counter, storage and two waiting rooms with wood-burning stoves. Original windows with wavy glass remain. After train service discontinued in 1970, the depot served as a restaurant and retail space for the community. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2017