To answer Anil's question, yes, we have some rather cool relics saved from the earlier days of railroading in the Prescott area. Number one, of course, is the actual depot down on Sheldon. Unfortunately, it has never caught on as a proper commercial venue, winding up instead as the office for a big brokerage. However, I'd be willing to bet that one of these days Real Soon Now, a coffee house could make a go of it.
There are the two old small town railroad stations that sit side by side out on Iron Springs Road. The building from
Hillside has housed restaurants for some years now, while Drake Station (below) is home to western antiques and memorabilia.
The third station still in service didn't move nearly as far from its original location -- just a few hundred yards from the tracks. It is now part of the
Skull Valley museum complex. And well worth a visit (as are the other two station houses.)
We can't overlook the remaining iron work that crosses Granite Creek at the foot of Granite Street and is even visible through the trees from Starbucks at the Depot Marketplace (below). BTW, there's a
strange and sad story explaining why the bridge still stands and is now a city landmark.
One More: I had totally forgotten that there is one old rural railroad depot still located at its original site, down in Perkinsville at the end of the Verde River excursion run. Jarart has posted pictures of the old station at Prescott Area Daily Photo.
To answer Anil's question, yes, we have some rather cool relics saved from the earlier days of railroading in the Prescott area. Number one, of course, is the actual depot down on Sheldon. Unfortunately, it has never caught on as a proper commercial venue, winding up instead as the office for a big brokerage. However, I'd be willing to bet that one of these days Real Soon Now, a coffee house could make a go of it.
There are the two old small town railroad stations that sit side by side out on Iron Springs Road. The building from Hillside has housed restaurants for some years now, while Drake Station (below) is home to western antiques and memorabilia.
The third station still in service didn't move nearly as far from its original location -- just a few hundred yards from the tracks. It is now part of the Skull Valley museum complex. And well worth a visit (as are the other two station houses.)
We can't overlook the remaining iron work that crosses Granite Creek at the foot of Granite Street and is even visible through the trees from Starbucks at the Depot Marketplace (below). BTW, there's a strange and sad story explaining why the bridge still stands and is now a city landmark.
One More: I had totally forgotten that there is one old rural railroad depot still located at its original site, down in Perkinsville at the end of the Verde River excursion run. Jarart has posted pictures of the old station at Prescott Area Daily Photo.
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8 comments:
Is the car still there?
Hermano
Too bad we couldn't turn that lovely station into a hip little restaurant. Great pics!
bro -- the old railroad car that sat atop the bridge has disappeared. And nobody is asking about it. I suspect that it's a case of "out of sight, out of mind." Too bad.
kate -- it really is a perfect site for a hip medium-sized restaurant.
GJ Erratum!! I logged on to the Skull valley Museum link in which you opined that Rinso sponsored Ma Perkins--no so, Oxydol was the culpret. Chester(I think) would spin in his grave as would Shuffle.
Hermano
Hermano erratum!! No Chester on Ma Perkins--shuffle ok.
Great photos! I'll have to put those railroad stations on my must see list the next time I'm in Prescott.
I didn't know that about the restaurant - too bad. I remember when AJ Ed. went in there and I, too, had hoped for a fun little tea room or lunch place.
bro -- you got me on that one. As I recall, I wasn't very much into Ma Perkins back in the day. I liked my soaps a lot soapier.
sandybee -- plan on a meal at Hillside Station; as a rule, the restaurant there is a good one.
frame -- I think a coffee shop may have made a try in the old depot way back when, but I'm not really sure.
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