Room Amenities

The Depot - History

In 1877 the Oregonian Railway Co. was established, initially by a group of area farmers who consolidated several smaller railroad companies and who were later bought out by a larger firm. Between 1878 and 1882 the Oregonian Railway built 183 miles of narrow gauge track through St. Paul, Woodburn, Mt. Angel and Silverton and on to Brownsville and Coburg. The line was mainly used to transport logs and lumber. The first spike was driven at Silverton. In 1886, Southern Pacific and Oregonian Railway merged and the track was converted to standard gauge.

The first depot was a small shed erected about 1880 – the existing depot was built in 1906 just south of the Square Deal building. Using lumber from Silverton Lumber Co., it was built in stages. In the front was the waiting room and behind was the telegraph and ticket office with steps going up to the warehouse – built higher to accommodate wagons and later on trucks for loading and unloading. Reportedly,