The Construction of the Historic Woodland Train Depot

It’s early 1911, and the citizens and business community in Woodland want to replace their old train depot, now nearly 40 years old, with a new more modern and larger one.  A rumor surfaces that the Southern Pacific Railroad is finally ready to construct a new depot.  Controversy ensues, but in the end the city of Woodland gets its new passenger train depot and the old depot is moved and turned in to a freight depot.  Follow this saga with daily reports from the Woodland Daily Democrat newspaper and help us celebrate the earliest history of the Historic Woodland Train Depot.

February 6, 1911

It is competition that has induced the Southern Pacific to double track its main lines.  In time competition will induce it to give Woodland a respectable depot and a thirty-minute service to Sacramento.

February 9, 1911

C. W. Thomas is in receipt of a letter from W. H. Devlin, attorney for the Southern Pacific Company, in which it is stated on the authority of Superintendent J. M. Davis that the company is now ready to proceed with the erection of a new depot at Woodland and expects to commence the construction of the same about the middle of March or the first of April.  This will be welcome news to the people of Woodland, who have been putting up with very inadequate depot facilities for many years.  When the company was before the board of supervisors asking for an appropriation to aid in the construction of a combination bridge over the Sacramento the promise was made that Woodland should have a new depot last summer.  However, a delay of a year will be overlooked if the company constructs a building that is adequate for all purposes and is a credit to the city.

February 10, 1911

The news published in Thursday’s “Democrat” in relation to the proposed new Southern Pacific depot was confirmed late in the afternoon, when Division Superintendent Sheridan passed through this city on a special train.  He stopped long enough to tell Agent Fingland that General Manager’s Order No. 2 has been issued authorizing the construction of the depot and other buildings.  The interpretation of that is that Williams is first on the list and Woodland stands second.  Mr. Sheridan says the new depot will be larger and more commodious than the present one and the freight shed will be separated from the passenger depot.  Of necessity there will have to be a rearrangement of the sidetracks.  In this connection we are in a position to state that Williams will not get the class of depot the people expected.  Some time ago the business men of Williams started an agitation for a sandstone building, offering to stand part of the expense as an inducement for the company to build that kind of a structure.  After duly considering the matter the company has decided that all railroad depots must be of standard character and alike.  A sandstone depot at Williams would start an agitation for the same kind of a building at other stations and therefore the sandstone proposition has been turned down.

February 11, 1911

There is a very material difference in the plans of the new depots the Southern Pacific Company is constructing nowadays and those that were in vogue twenty years ago.  The old depot building here has living apartments on the second floor.  In the new building to be constructed the living apartment is to be eliminated altogether.

February 13, 1911

There has been more or less speculation as to the probable yard changes and the location of the new depot building which the Southern Pacific Company promises to build this spring.  Roadmaster Albe was in Woodland and from his conversation we gained the impression that he has seen the yard as well as the building blue prints.  He says the new depot building will be located south of Lincoln avenue and somewhere near the site of the Blowers loading shed.  He also says the present depot building and warehouse will be moved south of the new depot building to a point near where the Greek section men have their rooming house, and they will be fitted up wholly for the use of those in charge of the freight department.  The new building will contain the baggage room, the ticket and telegraph offices and the passenger waiting room.  There will be a radical change in the arrangement of the yard and the tracks.  The branch line passenger trains will be run in on a track west of the new depot and the main line trains will run in on a track east of the depot.

February 17, 1911

A construction gang is expected Saturday and they will begin the work immediately of tearing up and reconstructing tracks in the local yard in accordance with the plans for the new depot.  There are still a few left who refuse to believe that the railroad company is going to give Woodland a new depot, but they are growing less every day.

February 21, 1911

Activities about the Southern Pacific yard indicate that Woodland is number one instead of number two, as at first reported, in the list of stations that is to have a new depot.  A surveyor’s outfit arrived Monday evening and this morning two surveyors put in an appearance and today they are working in the yard, evidently laying out the lines on which the rearranged tracks are to be run.  A carpenter’s crew of seven men, with C. H. Crussell as foreman, also began operations this morning.  Two carloads of lumber and a carload of concrete blocks have been received.  The carpenters are working near the site of the proposed freight depot and the presumption is that it will be the first building constructed, or rather remodeled, as it has been given out that the present depot building will be moved, remodeled and re-arranged, and improved in many ways, and used hereafter as a freight depot.

Division Superintendent Sheridan, having expressed a desire to meet business men of Woodland in conference on matters of mutual interest to this city, and the railroad company, President H. H. Gable has called a meeting for the chamber of commerce rooms for Friday evening, February 24^th, at 7:30 o’clock.

February 22, 1911

There has been more or less speculation about what Division Superintendent Sheridan wants to talk over with the business men of Woodland, since the announcement was made that he is coming over Friday evening, February 24^th.  Mayor Mitchell thinks he has discovered the key to the whole situation.

Tuesday workmen employed by the Southern Pacific Company began putting down concrete blocks for the foundation on which the present depot is to be moved and converted into a freight depot.  The site is directly south of the Ogden warehouse and faces north on Lincoln avenue.

About the same time a rumor became current that the company wants to close both Lincoln avenue and Oak street and to build the new passenger depot on a part of Lincoln avenue.

It was also reported that according to the blue print that had been shown here to a few, that the company will set up the claim that the city has no title to Lincoln avenue farther east than Fifth street.

When these reports reached Mayor Mitchell he laid the matter before the city trustees Tuesday evening, at a special meeting, and it was ordered that City Surveyor Campbell fix the lines on that street.  Mr. Campbell made a survey this morning from which he ascertained that the iron rail on the south side of Lincoln avenue and opposite the west end of the Ogden warehouse, is two and a half feet in the street and that the line of stakes set by the company is two feet in the street at the east end, or near the sidetrack.  Mayor Mitchell thereupon notified Agent Fingland that the railroad lines must conform to the city survey and that nothing must be constructed in the street.

A “Democrat” representative was at the scene this morning to investigate, but found that the workmen are observing holiday and none of them are in this city.  None of the local employees know anything about the blue print except in a general way.

There does not seem to be any doubt that the city has a good title to Lincoln avenue from Fourth through to East street, which is on the east side of the railroad.  The whole of the street from Fourth to East street is in what is known as the Fiske & Messenger addition.  George D. Fiske and W. L. Messinger, on the 7^th day of December, 1866, deeded to the city an eighty-foot street from Fourth to East, and this deed and also a plot showing the lines of the street, are recorded on book “E” of deeds, page 468.

Mayor Mitchell says he never will consent to the closing of Lincoln avenue and if two more of the trustees are of the same mind the company cannot obtain the exclusive use of the street except at the end of a condemnation suit.

February 23, 1911

Foreman Crussell resumed work on the foundation of the proposed new freight depot this morning.  The extreme north concrete block is several feet inside of the south line of Lincoln avenue, as indicated by the survey of the city surveyor.  The question of the difference in the lines established by the city surveyor and those run by railroad engineers will therefore not be raised until the construction of the platform, if any, on the north side, is commenced.  If the concrete blocks mark the extreme northern limit of the building, the question is not likely to be raised at all.  In the meantime P. N. Ashley, who was the predecessor of City Surveyor Campbell, insists that the lines established by the city are correct.  Mr. Crussell says he has no information as to the exact site of the proposed new passenger depot building.  There may be no opposition to the closing of Oak street if it is absolutely necessary for railroad purposes, but there is certain to be strong opposition if any attempt is made to close Lincoln avenue.

February 24, 1911

Assistant Division Superintendent George Geiger and Train Master R. L. Russell were in Woodland Thursday afternoon looking over the railroad yard with a view of arriving at some conclusion as to the best arrangement for the mutual accommodation and convenience of the company and the public.  Mr. Geiger stated that the company is not inclined to antagonize the people and he is confident that an amicable agreement can readily be reached in regard to the sites for the new buildings.

Business men of Woodland should not forget that Division Superintendent Sheridan will be in Woodland this evening and desires to meet as many representative citizens as are interested in contemplated improvements, at the rooms of the chamber of commerce.  If you have any suggestions to offer attend the meeting prepared to make them.

The workmen are making rapid progress with the new freight depot.  The stringers are on the foundation and in a few days the present freight shed will be removed to the new site where the freight business will be transacted.  The present passenger depot will remain where it is until the new passenger depot is completed, after which it will be removed for use as offices for the freight department.  The open freight platform will be longer than the present one, the south end reaching almost to Oak street.

February 25, 1911

The conference between railroad officials and business men of Woodland was held Friday evening in the chamber of commerce rooms.  For several days after the rumor that the company wants to close Lincoln avenue gained circulation there was considerable opposition on the streets and elsewhere, but it did not materialize at the conference and if there was any opposition there it did not manifest itself.

Division Superintendent Sheridan arrived in his special car on No. 18.  He was accompanied by G. B. Harrington, division engineer, C. F. Green, superintendent of bridges and buildings, and W. Reed, secretary to Mr. Sheridan.

The chamber of commerce rooms were crowded and much interest was manifested.  President Gable called the meeting to order and stated that its purpose was to confer with the railroad officials in relation to matters of mutual interest to the company and the people of Woodland.

Mr. Sheridan was introduced and very briefly and concisely stated the attitude of the company in relation to some contemplated improvements.  He stated that it is proposed to construct new passenger and freight depots, independently of each other, in order to facilitate the transaction of the company’s business and accommodate its patrons.  The plans contemplate the construction of the passenger depot directly across Lincoln avenue, which would necessitate the closing of that street at the depot.  He said the reason for this was that the company wants room enough between Main and Oak streets so that passenger trains can stop at the depot without the necessity of cutting them for the crossings at Main and Oak.  He cited Reno as an instance where it is necessary to cut all passenger trains during their stop at the station in order that teams and pedestrians may pass through.

In order to close the street it would be necessary to get the permission of the city and he suggested that, as the company will be ready to begin the foundation in ten days or two weeks, a special meeting of the trustees ought to be called to consider the matter.  It will also be necessary to obtain some franchises so that team track may be constructed.

Mr. Sheridan stated that the company would construct a macadamized road from Main to Oak street, on its right of way, so that the blocking of Lincoln avenue would not discommode anybody.  The company also proposes to maintain a park on the north and south sides of the depot.  Mr. Sheridan gave the meeting assurance that the building will be the largest and finest on the West Side.  The blue print of the buildings was spread out on a table and explained in detail.  He requested the chamber of commerce to enquire of the authorities at Marysville and Roseville and it would be ascertained that at both places the company had more than redeemed all promises made.  He declared that the interests of the company and Woodland are identical and the company is anxious to please the people.

Mr. Sheridan talked along the same lines that he did at the Willows meeting in relation to freight traffic.  He said that six freight trains a week will be run on and after April 1^st.  The motor service is given at a loss but it will eventually pay and the company is interested in development work.  He admitted that the service between Sacramento and Woodland is unsatisfactory but that is due to connections on the western division and these conditions will be remedied as fast as possible.  He stated that the country surrounding Woodland is not surpassed for its fertility and productiveness anywhere in the state.

T. B. Gibson was the first to express the opinion that the company’s demands are reasonable.  He said the depot at Denver stands in the center of the principal street and is an ornament to the city.  The same conditions exist at Salt Lake and Ogden.

J. Reith Jr. could see no objections to the closing of Lincoln avenue and Mr. Sheridan interrupted him to say that the buildings will be a surprise to the people and better than they anticipate.

President Gable asked if the company will maintain a gate at some of the crossings, at one of which a man was recently killed.  Mr. Sheridan replied that gates are very expensive, and do not accomplish what is expected of them.  The people themselves are the first to break them down.  The man who will not look before going onto a crossing will pay no attention to a gate.  A bell is maintained here at a considerable expense and nobody is in danger if reasonable care is exercised.

F. W. Blanchard asked a number of questions in relation to switching at Main street, which Mr. Sheridan apparently answered to his satisfaction.  Agent Fingland interrupted to remark that under the proposed new arrangement of the yard most of the switching will be done at the south end.

Mr. Sheridan said that as the work progresses if the arrangements are not satisfactory the people can make their objections known and the company will do its best to meet them.

Someone asked what the company will do in the event that the city trustees refuse to grant permission to close Lincoln avenue.  He remarked that there is a very nice site about a mile and a quarter this side of Davis.  This provoked a laugh in which he joined but later explained that the remark must not be considered in the nature of a threat.  He was not prepared to say what the company will do.  The work will necessarily be delayed.

J. Reith moved that it is the sense of the chamber of commerce that the plans as presented by Mr. Sheridan be endorsed.  The motion prevailed without a dissenting voice.

Another motion was unanimously adopted to the effect that President Gable appoint a committee of five to confer with the city trustees in relation to calling a special meeting.

The meeting was about to adjourn when Mabry McMahan obtained recognition and appealed to the chamber of commerce to endorse Golden Gate Park as a site for the Panama Exposition.  J. A. Murray offered a motion making such endorsement.  It was seconded by W. F. Mixon and it was adopted.

The buildings as they appear on paper are imposing structures.  The passenger depot will be divided into baggage room 18 x 24, office 22 x 24 with a bay window front, a men’s waiting room, 19 x 24 and a women’s waiting room 18 x17.  An arcade thirteen feet wide and forty feet longer than the old one will run along the east side of the building.  The offices and waiting rooms will be equipped with every modern accommodation.

President Gable announced the following committee to confer with the city trustees: C. Sieber, T. S. Spaulding, Ed E. Leake, J. A. Murray and J. V. Leithold.  Mr. Sieber will call the committee together next Monday.

The delayed freight train which reached Woodland late Friday afternoon brought for this city three carloads of lumber for the new freight depot…

February 27, 1911

A railroad construction gang arrived Saturday afternoon to make the necessary changes in the track to conform with the plans for the new depot.  The gang will not be put to work, however, until the railroad company and the city have agreed definitely upon the site for the new building.

March 1, 1911

We are in receipt of a telegram from H. W. Sheridan, division superintendent of the Southern Pacific Company, in which he states that he will be present at the special meeting of the city trustees Friday evening.

March 3, 1911

G. B. Harrington, who accompanied Division Superintendent Sheridan to Woodland for a conference with Woodland business men in relation to a passenger depot site, has resigned the position of division engineer, to take effect March 8^th, and will be succeeded by W. H. Kirkbridge, chief engineer for the coast division.

March 4, 1911

A special meeting of the city trustees was held Friday evening to hear the proposal of the Southern Pacific Company in relation to the proposed new depot and its desire to close the east end of Lincoln Avenue for a site.  There was a good attendance, and all the members of the board were there except Mr. Boots, who sent word that he would act in accordance with the wishes of a majority of the people.

Division Superintendent Sheridan was expected to be present, but at the last moment he was detained by imperative business.  He was represented by Division Engineer G. B. Harrington, who was accompanied by J. A. Givens, of the engineer’s office.

Mayor Mitchell called the meeting to order and stated the object of the meeting.  He called upon Mr. Harrington to make a statement of what the company desires to do and what concessions it is willing to make.  Mr. Harrington covered practically the same ground as was covered by Mr. Sheridan at the meeting last week in the chamber of commerce rooms, all of which has been exploited in these columns.  The new passenger depot is to be large, commodious, modern and convenient and is expected to be of such a character that it will be an ornament to the city.  It is to be located across Lincoln avenue and near Sixth street, and is to be a separate building.  A macadamized driveway 35 to 40 feet wide, is to be constructed from Main street to Oak avenue, and Lincoln avenue is to be macadamized from the passenger depot to Sixth street.  Mr. Harrington said the yard would be properly drained and the company will be glad to confer with the city authorities at any time in regard to changes and improvements deemed necessary.

Mayor Mitchell stated that the board is the servant of the people and is prepared to carry out their wishes.  He invited anyone present who had any objections to come forward and make them known.

E. J. Tharp was the only objector who responded.  He said he would object unless the company will agree to compensate the city for so much of the street as it closes up and unless the driveway from Main street to Oak avenue is sixty feet wide.

Trustee Curson asked if the company would be willing to put in a gate at the Main street crossing.  Mr. Harrington replied that he was not authorized to make any promises in relation to that matter and that it would have to be taken up with Mr. Sheridan.

Mayor Mitchell enquired if the company will give a guarantee that the driveway from Main street to Oak avenue will be kept open as long as Lincoln avenue is kept closed for railroad purposes, and Mr. Harrington assured him it would.

J. A. Murray, J. Reith Jr., F. W. Blanchard and H. H. Gable all expressed the opinion that there could be no objection to closing Lincoln avenue at the point named, for the purposes stated and under the conditions promised.

Mayor Mitchell enquired if the company preferred that action should be taken by resolution or by ordinance.  He stated that a resolution can be adopted at the next meeting of the board, Monday night, but an ordinance will require notice of two weeks.  Mr. Harrington replied that the company would like to go to work at once and would be satisfied with a resolution.  He promised that the company’s representatives will be at the next meeting prepared to give a written guarantee that it will fulfill its verbal agreement.

March 7, 1911

Sacramento Cal., March 4, 1911.  To the Hon. Mayor and Council of the City of Woodland, Yolo County, Cal. – Gentlemen: Concerning various conferences, will say that this company desires to place a passenger station across Lincoln avenue, adjacent to and  to the west of the company’s main line track; that company desires to build on its own property on either side of this a small park; that company intends to build a driveway 30 or 35 feet in width, running nearly straight from Main street to Oak avenue, which will offer easy access to vehicles to any part of the station grounds, and this will allow vehicles to enter station grounds from Main street and get out at either Oak or Lincoln avenue, as may be desired; company of course, reserving the title to the property thus used as a driveway.  It is also proposed to metal with cobbles, gravel and oil, Lincoln avenue down to the town side of the depot from Sixth street.

Company also desires to move its house track, which runs from about Main street to nearly Oak avenue, parallel with present main line, to a position parallel and to the west of the present track running from Main street past the Ogden warehouse, and again joining the main line at a point near Cross street, which track lies to the west of the main track and some two hundred feet from it.  This house track in its new position will cross both Lincoln avenue and Oak avenue. This in line with proposed improvements to the freight facilities.

We would be very glad if a resolution authorizing this company to act as outlined in the above letter, could be passed at your regular meeting Monday night, March 6^th, in order that we may proceed at once with the very desirable improvements proposed at Woodland, copy of the plans of which have been talked over with your honorable body.

Yours truly, H. W. Sheridan

Superintendent.

The letter was ordered on file (at the City Trustees Meeting).  A resolution was adopted including all the agreements of Mr. Sheridan’s letter, and providing that the roadway between Main street and Oak avenue shall be 35 feet wide; that the work shall be completed in six months; that the highway shall be open to the public as long as the depot is stationed on Lincoln avenue, and that in the event the railroad company shall fail to comply with the conditions it shall forfeit all rights and the city may remove said depot.

March 13, 1911

The construction crew is erecting a temporary shed on the south end of the depot platform to be used in storing freight while the old freight shed is being moved to the new location south of Lincoln avenue (where the Historic Woodland Train Depot is now located).  The work of moving the old shed will probably be started on Tuesday.

March 14, 1911

The carpenters’ crew began the removal of so much of the old freight depot as will be utilized in the construction of the new freight depot to the new site this morning.  A temporary shed for the accommodation of freight has been constructed and will be used until the new shed is ready for occupancy.  All those who are receiving freight are expected to call for it with as little delay as possible, as the facilities for handling and caring for it will be very limited for a few days.

March 16, 1911

The removal of the old freight shed to the new site for the freight depot seems to be a tedious job.  It has covered but little more than half the distance in two days.

Roadmaster C.M. Kipp of the Marysville division … has another crew of twenty-five men at work re-arranging the tracks in the Woodland yard.

March 17, 1911

The crew of carpenters at work on the freight depot set up a donkey engine Thursday afternoon and the result is expected to be that the removal of the old shed will be so expedited that it will be on the new site by Saturday night, or not later than Monday.

March 21, 1911

The railroad carpenters are making rapid progress with the freight depot and it is expected that work on the new passenger depot will be commenced next week.

Assistant Division Superintendent Geiger and Local Agent Fingland were present (at the City Trustees Meeting) and asked some slight modification in the agreement to close Lincoln avenue for depot purposes so that in the event that any change in the location of the macadamized road from Main street to Oak avenue necessitated by increased business might be made.  The change was made.

March 22, 1911

A watchman is employed in the yard and his services will be required at least until the new buildings are constructed.

March 23, 1911

A part of the crew with the construction quit work Wednesday and the steam shovel was also taken off.

March 24, 1911

Workmen are preparing the concrete foundation for the new freight office today.

The freight receipts today include … a carload of concrete blocks for the S.P. Co. …

March 27, 1911

The work of putting down the concrete foundation of the new passenger depot has been commenced.

March 28, 1911

R. L. Russell, train master, was in Woodland today en route to Willows.  Mr. Russell is a Yolo county boy who takes great interest in the railroad improvements now being made in Woodland.

The freight receipts today were … a carload of cement for the new depot …

March 29, 1911

The cement foundation of the new passenger depot will be about four feet in height.  The construction of the framework has been delayed by failure of material to arrive.

A carload of sand for the new depot building was received this morning.

March 30, 1911

RIOT ON DEPOT GROUNDS,

Two Alphabetical Tangles Beset Plain John Brown

Constable Barker and Marshal Clary were summoned to the depot grounds Wednesday afternoon to quell a disturbance among several members of one of the extra crew of Greek laborers employed by the railroad company.  It appears that a misunderstanding arose between Gost Vondouvos and Nick Fidiges on the one side and John Brown on the other.  The latter swore to a complaint charging the others with robbery.  According to Brown the other two men forcibly took nearly ten dollars away from him.

When the case was called before Justice Strong this morning the prosecuting witness failed to appear.  The case was then continued until 10 o’clock Friday morning with the understanding that if the prosecuting witness failed to appear at that time the case would be dismissed.  The defendants were allowed to go on their own recognizance.  Vondouvos who is foreman of the crew, stated that Brown was a member of the crew and he quit owing him about $14, which he refused to pay.  He and his friend, Fidiges, merely took what was coming to him, is the claim set up by the foreman.

Brown is believed to have left town on the midnight train Wednesday.

It is estimated that three hundred carloads of gravel will be required to fill in and grade the railroad yard properly.  The gravel, which comes from Glenn county, is of a peculiar character and packs almost as hard as cement.  It would be splendid material for street improvement.

March 31, 1911

The new arrangements of tracks in the yard will necessitate the removal of but one of the big oak trees that are so much admired, and that is gnarled and knotty and no longer a thing of beauty.  It is the tree which stands east and near the side track crossing at Lincoln avenue.  A crew of workmen rooted out the tree today.

The original plan for tracking the yard has been modified.  Instead of putting in two spurs west of the freight track, to be used as loading tracks, the loading track will be the full length of the yard and thirty or forty feet east of the freight house track.  An entire new line for the freight house track will be constructed.  The present side track will be used for a lumber track.

April 3, 1911

(A) carload of lumber was also received for the new depot.

April 4, 1911

The railroad carpenters have removed the boxing in which the concrete foundation was molding and are putting down the sills today.  They expect to have the new passenger depot ready for occupancy by the first of May.

April 5, 1911

The railroad carpenters are laid off today on account of the weather.

April 6, 1911

The freight receipts were … a carload of lumber for the new depot …

The railroad carpenters resumed work on the new passenger depot this morning.

April 8, 1911

A force of men is employed today in laying a water main to the new freight depot.

April 11, 1911

Railroad surveyors are at work in the yard today locating the new tracks.

The framework of the new passenger depot is up.

April 12, 1911

The freight receipts today include … a carload of lumber for the new depot.

April 13, 1911

The freight receipts today were … and one carload of materials for the new depot.

April 14, 1911

The rustic weather boarding will give the exterior of the new passenger depot a very attractive appearance.

Work is practically at a standstill on the new freight depot.  But little more can be done until the new passenger depot is ready for occupancy.

April 18, 1911

The freight tracks near the new freight depot are now ready for use and on Thursday, possibly sooner, the removal of the freight office to the new freight depot will be made.  The roof cannot be put on the new passenger depot until the present house track is taken up, as it runs over the proposed location of the columns that will support the portico of the new depot building.

April 20, 1911

The new passenger depot looms up beautifully.

April 21, 1911

The freight track known as the house track is a thing of the past.  The work of taking it up was completed today.

The freight office was transferred from the old passenger depot to the new freight depot today.  A gravel train is ballasting the freight tracks.

The temporary freight shed was torn away today and this afternoon all incoming freight was discharged at the new freight depot.  Assistant Weaver is in charge at the new quarters.

April 25, 1911

The iron columns for the colonnade of the new passenger depot are now in position and the building is gradually assuming an imposing and attractive appearance.

April 27, 1911

The railroad carpenters are putting the rafters on the new passenger depot today.

April 28, 1911

The railroad carpenters will not be able to make good their promise of a new passenger depot ready for occupancy on the 1^st day of May.  The date will be nearer the 1^st of June.

The railroad company is unloading forty-one carloads of Orland gravel between the freight house track and the main track today. It will go far toward grading and filling in the low places in the yard.

May 1, 1911

The railroad company has instructed the gentleman in charge of the construction work on the new depot to negotiate with a local contractor for putting in the cement floors.

May 3, 1911

The freight receipts this morning were … a carload of sewer pipe for the Southern Pacific Company …

A force of men is engaged in raising the main track in the yard three inches and putting in new ties wherever necessary. 

The freight tracks in the Woodland yard are now in better condition than ever before in the history of the road.  The company seems to be making good its promise to make the local yard both attractive and convenient for the dispatch of business.

May 9, 1911

The shingle roofing of the new passenger depot has been completed with the exception of the painting.  The twelve-foot macadam walk that is to parallel the main track, on the west side, from Main street to Oak avenue, has been commenced and from Oak avenue to the south end of the new depot building there is nothing lacking but the application of the oil and the dressing.  The impression that the new buildings and the work in the yard are to be of the most substantial character grows every day.

May 11, 1911

The railroad carpenters expect to have the new passenger depot ready for the first coat of paint by the middle of next week.

A sewer which connects with the main sewer is being extended along Lincoln avenue for the benefit of the depot and the railroad yard.

May 16, 1911

The railroad carpenters expect to stop work on the new passenger depot Wednesday or Thursday until the plastering is dry and the cement work set.  In the meantime they will go to Willows to do some work there.  The work of tearing away the old platform was practically completed today.  The big platform scales for the new freight depot were received today.

Today the receipts were two carloads of gravel for the railroad company …

May 17, 1911

Four carloads of decomposed rock which came from Cordova were unloaded in the railroad yard this morning.  It is probable that it is this material that is to be used for filling in the yard after the tracks are all arranged.

May 18, 1911

The freight receipts today included … two carloads of decomposed rock for the Southern Pacific Company …

May 19, 1911

The freight receipts today include … two carloads of gravel for the S. P. Co.

May 20, 1911

The shipping receipts this morning include … two cars of gravel for the S. P. Co.

May 23, 1911

The carpenters who have been working on the new passenger depot have gone to Willows to work on the depot at that place.  They will return to put the finishing touches on the Woodland depot as soon as the plastering is dry enough and the painters are through with their work.  In the meantime a force of men has commenced the work of filling in and grading the yard about the depot building.

May 26, 1911

The manhole on Lincoln avenue, near the depot, is higher than the present grade but it was necessary to put it in that way so that it will conform to the street when it is raised to its proper grade.

May 27, 1911

Clarence Porteus, local contractor, is doing the plastering of the new passenger depot.  He is using wire netting instead of laths.  That makes the job more expensive, but the work is more durable and susceptible of a better finish.

May 29, 1911

The crew of painters arrived Sunday and began the work of painting the new passenger depot this morning.  The crew is in charge of W. E. Darby, a Yolo county man, who formerly resided at Knights Landing.  Five cars were required to transport the outfit.

May 30, 1911

W. M. Williams, who has the contract for plastering the interior of the new depot building, was forced to cease work this morning on account of an attack of appendicitis.

June 12, 1911

The receipts on Sunday were three carloads of general merchandise… The supply car also left a lot of material for the finishing touches to the new depot.

Since beginning the work on the new passenger depot several details of the yard plan have been changed.  There will be two macadamized roads running north and south through the yard from Main street to Oak avenue.  Between the two roads there will be two parks.  One of them will begin near Main street and terminate near the north end of the depot building, where the east side road will make a turn around the depot.  The other will begin at the south line of Lincoln avenue and run to Oak avenue.  The first filling around the depot building was too high and three inches have been removed.  This will be replaced by a coating of oiled rock screenings which will make a surface almost as hard and smooth as a cement walk.

June 15, 1911

The railroad carpenters have gone to Oroville pending the completion of the cement work in the new passenger depot.  H. G. Barnes has the floor completed in the two waiting rooms.  The floor in the office is wooden.  It is possible that the building will be ready for occupancy by the first of July.

June 28, 1911

Contractor Williams will complete the plastering job at the new passenger depot today and the carpenters are expected to return Wednesday or Thursday.  If the full crew returns three days will be all that are required to complete the work of the carpenters.  The wainscoting in the waiting rooms is the biggest job yet to be completed.

Five carloads of macadam arrived for the railroad company Tuesday but it cannot be unloaded until Monday, as the section men are laying off this week.  This macadam will be used as a dressing for the red, gravelly soil that has been used to fill in around the depot and which has already packed very hard.  The walks to and around the depot, when the work is completed, will be very fine, and ought to afford an object lesson in street improvement.

July 7, 1911

Two carpenters resumed work on the passenger depot Thursday morning and the building will soon be complete.  There will probably be some delay in getting into the building because the work of macadamizing has not yet been commenced.

July 11, 1911

The painters are putting the last coat of paint on the exterior of the new passenger depot.

July 18, 1911

The new passenger depot will be ready for occupancy as soon as the macadam is put on around the building.  The equipment is first-class and there are more room and better accommodations inside than an exterior view would indicate.  The preparation of the ground south of the building for a park is under way.  The matter of making a park on the north side is under way.  The double macadam road seems to be a certainty.

August 2, 1911

The new passenger depot is ready for occupancy, but there will be no hurry about removal from the old quarters, as some time will be required for the grounds about the depot to pack.

August 3, 1911

Foreman Carter has men cleaning and scrubbing out the interior of the new passenger depot.  There seems to be some difference of opinion as to when it will be occupied.

August 4, 1911

The force of men who have been grading the grounds and walks about the new passenger depot supposed that the walk between the old and new depots was complete, but orders came Thursday night to put on a finish of rock dust and that has been done today.  The iron hitching posts that were planted north of the old depot building were also taken up and placed on the curb line of the new walk north of the new building.

August 8, 1911

The order to move into the new passenger depot came rather unexpectedly Monday afternoon (August 7).  The electrician was here and anxious to get away and it was decided to move right away.  The transfer was made about 5 o’clock.  The new desks have not yet arrived, so it was necessary to move the old ones over for temporary use.  As a result, the interior of the office looks rather shabby, as the old furniture is not in keeping with the spick and span appearance of the building.  When the illuminations were turned on the building presented a decidedly attractive appearance.  The approaches to the depot are heavy for the busses and other vehicles, as they have not yet been properly graded and covered.  Trucking about the depot will be heavy until the new grounds have packed thoroughly.  The office and waiting room of the old depot will probably be moved in a few days to the side track west of the new depot and be used as a freight office.

Fred Quint and his extra crew that have been at work several weeks filling in and grading about the new passenger depot, left for Williams today where a new passenger depot is in course of construction.

August 16, 1911

The Southern Pacific depot at Williams has been completed and is now in use.

S. Albee, Roadmaster for the Red Bluff division, is in Woodland today but has nothing new to report in relation to yard work.

August 17, 1911

General Superintendent J. M. Davis, Division Superintendent H. W. Sheridan and Resident Engineer W. H. Kirkbridge, arrived in their special car today and spent several hours inspecting the new depot and yard.  They intended to remain long enough to take an auto ride about Woodland and vicinity, but a message from San Francisco caused them to leave sooner than they expected.

August 18, 1911

The rock dust and oil combination which comprises the filling around the new depot is packing slowly but satisfactorily.

August 25, 1911

The grass in the park at the south end of the new depot is coming out rapidly, and soon the railroad company will have a park of which they may feel proud.

Work was commenced on the wagon road leading from the south end of the new depot to Cross street this morning.

August 26, 1911

Report comes from an authentic source that the carpenters will arrive in Woodland Sunday or Monday and will commence moving the remaining portion of the old depot to its future location.

August 29, 1911

Carpenters arrived yesterday and are busily engaged in tearing down and moving the old depot.  The company has a big force of men on the job and they expect to have the work completed by Friday.  Only the north half of the building will be moved to the freight shed, the other half is to be torn down completely.  A boulevard will be constructed as soon as possible and the busses and automobiles, and other vehicles will then have a straight driveway to the new depot.

August 31, 1911

A concrete mixer was unloaded here today and the word has been given out that the work of repairing the street will begin at once.  Concrete curbings will be made around the grass plots and bordering the boulevard.  A steam pump and an oil spreader will soon be made to rush the work of completing the driveways before the winter season sets in.

September 18, 1911

C. F. Hansen, traveling auditor, assistant Frank Willlott and five clerks from the account department of the Southern Pacific Company, spent a part of Saturday night and Sunday checking up the local office.  Notwithstanding the recent removal from the old to the new quarters and all the confusion incident thereto the books and accounts of Agent Fingland and his assistants were found in excellent condition.