I think most people would agree that one on the most iconic landmarks in Glendive would be the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot. An old photo of that historic building served as my very first Facebook Cover Photo and is re-posted here. Also posted is an article from the Dec. 18, 1922 Helena Independent Newspaper detailing the recently constructed masterpiece of architectural design and the upcoming celebration of its opening. GLENDIVE NOW HAS FINEST RAILROAD STATION BETWEEN ST. PAUL AND SEATTLE AND WILL CELEBRATE OPENING ON DECEMBER 20TH Depot and Division Headquarters Building Cost the Northern Pacific Railway Company $250,000, and the City is Justly Proud of Its New Acquisition Glendive’s New Station and Division Headquarters Building which will be dedicated at a Celebration to be held December 29 this year. Many Helena people have been invited to attend a celebration at Glendive on the occasion of the opening of the new Northern Pacific Railway station and division headquarters building at that place which is said to be the finest between St. Paul and Seattle. The celebration will be held there on Dec. 20. Glendives new depot and division headquarters building is one of the finest and largest structures of its kind on the entire system of the Northern Pacific railway. In architectural design it is modern, and may be classed as Northern Pacific depot style which is more adapted to business efficiency than mere beauty of outline or configuration. Its lines suggest directness, exactness and thoroughness without frills or ornateness. The building is emblematic of the spirit and ideal of the railroad which built it. Hebron pressed red brick with trimmings of white brick of the same type worked out in neat artistic designs in the material employed for the exterior. It is fire-proof structure of concrete and brick throughout. The entire building is to be employed solely for railroad purposes, the ground floor being devoted largely to passenger traffic purposes and the remainder for offices of the Yellowstone division of the Northern Pacific railway. In the basement will be found storage room vaults and the refrigeration plant of the dining car department, since with the commencement of the year, Glendive will become the only other dining car supply station on the entire system, besides those located at St. Paul, Minnesota, and Seattle, Washington. Three Stories High. That part of the building housing the offices of the division is three stories high, and the remainder but one story. It is 286 feet long, facing the railroad tracks and 42 feet wide with a height of 20 feet for the single story portion and 40 feet for the balance of the building. On the track side then is a passenger platform with red brick flooring extending 56 feet from the building to the first passenger train track and is 380 feet long. This is intercepted by three grass and shrubbery plots, the center one of which is oval and the other two oblong. There are two additional platforms for train service, each of which is 1,000 feet long of the same material, and one of which is 18 feet wide and the other 15 feet, between which run the main track of the railway. Passenger trains will stop in front of the depot on a special track for that purpose capable of holding the longest passenger train, and thus leave the main track free for other uses. Paralleling the main track, and about 100 feet from the south side of the station, is the end of a stub or spur track for local trains west bound, whereas two stubs terminate near the northerly end of the building for the parking of business, and private cars. A portico also situated on the north end will be used for the storage of trucks used in handling baggage, express packages, and the mails. This portion of the building will also permit the construction of any future addition when necessary. The building, which situated on the right of way of the Northern Pacific Railway company, sets back about 40 feet from Merrill avenue, the main business thoroughfare of Glendive. It is surrounded on all sides by a spacious platform for passenger use and a concreted roadway for vehicles on the street side which leads to the concrete business street from the depot platform. For a distance of several hundred feet on each side of the building and following the right of way are spacious grounds and lawns, which will be made into beautiful parks with the advent of spring. Well Lighted. The train platforms are dotted with 26 electric lamp posts of artistic design, surmounted by large white globes containing a powerful light, while on the awning surrounding the entire structure there are numerous globes at close intervals, all of which will illuminate the building and platform at night brilliantly and impress the traveler with the fact that he is entering the metropolis of eastern Montana. From the track side of the station one can gaze over the trackage of the terminal yards, note the machine shops, the round house, the new power house, the new concrete store-room building and other buildings of the division point. The remaining sides of the building overlook the residence and especially the business portions of Glendive. Through underground conduits, the entire building will be heated by steam from the new central heating plant of the company. All telegraph, light and telephone cables enter the building in underground conduits as there are no poles within several hundred feet on each side of the station. Cost $250,000. This splendid new structure will cost over $250,000 for building and equipment. It was built to replace an old frame building destroyed by fire on Jan. 15, 1922, and will be formally opened with appropriate ceremonies on Dec. 20, 1922. In addition to this new station and office building, the Northern Pacific railway is also constructing a new central heating plant at cost of $150,000 and a new fire proof store room building of concrete to cost $80,000. Glendive Is Proud, Glendive is justly proud of it new railway station and will put on quite a celebration for the opening to which railway men from all parts of the Northern Pacific will come, including a special train of Pullman cars from St. Paul. The city welcomes the presence of every one to help it celebrate, as special invitations are being mailed out to a number of railway employees who served formerly at Glendive and are now scattered over the country, and railway officials of the Northern Pacific. Special in invitations are also being sent to commercial organizations and the press, as they represent the community of their respective cities. Glendive has hung out the sign Welcome, and cordially invite all to be present.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 18:25:40 +0000
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