On August 6th, 1910, the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway opened the newly completed Brownwood depot with little pomp and circumstance. After months of delays, the construction of the depot had finally been completed, and instead of waiting a further delay to hold the planned open house, the depot opened its doors for the traveling public and people of Brownwood.
The people of Brownwood at the turn of the 19th to 20th Century had been begging for a better depot, fitting the “thousands of dollars of business” brought to the Santa Fe from Brownwood. After years of delays, the Santa Fe had hired Jarvis Hunt to design three depots in Texas – the Union Station in Dallas, and the two depots in Temple and Brownwood. In addition, he designed new Fred Harvey Houses for Temple and Brownwood as well. Jarvis Hunt was a famous Chicago architect who had designed many depots all along the Santa Fe Railway lines. The depot in Temple was designed a little larger and fancier, as Temple was the Division Headquarters for the Southern Division. The Union Station in Dallas is the grandest depot in the state of Texas due to the size of the City and number of railroads that used the union station.
Jarvis Hunt designed both the Temple and Brownwood Depots in the “Prairie/Beau Arts” style. “Prairie” style architecture stresses horizontal lines, with windows that have multiple panes of glass in the upper half and one single pane of glass in the lower half of all the windows. The “Beau Arts” architecture features high arched windows all across the outside facades of the street and track sides of the building, with light pouring into a grand waiting room inside.
Brownwood’s Fred Harvey House is the only Harvey House in Texas built to Jarvis Hunt design. The one designed for Temple was never built, and its old 1896 Harvey House served Temple until it closed in the 1930’s. That makes Brownwood’s Harvey House unique in the state. In addition, the restoration of both buildings was of such quality that the original wall decorations in the Harvey House were also restored.
And on Friday, August 6th, 2010, a 100th birthday reception is planned at the Depot with a special historic exhibit by the Lehnis Railroad Museum. The reception will be come-and-go from 10am -2pm with presentations and a city proclamation at 11am. The Heritage Association and Lehnis Railroad Museum also have a few surprises in store for those in attendance. Put August 6th on your calendar for this special event.
For more information, contact the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce at 325-646-9535.
