Historic Norman train depot turns 100 years old
BY JANE GLENN CANNON
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Published: November 12, 2009
NORMAN — Depot Centennial Week at the Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Ave., will begin with a vintage train car display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Santa Fe Depot is at 200 S Jones Ave. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY
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Depot’s past and present
→The first Santa Fe Railroad passenger train came through what would become Norman on June 13, 1887. As train travel gained popularity, the original modest frame depot became increasingly inadequate.
→In early 1909, a citizens railroad committee convinced the railroad to build a larger, more modern depot. On Nov. 18, 1909, the contractors of the new red brick station handed over the keys.
→In 1999, Amtrak service returned to the depot with the Heartland Flyer, which runs daily from Norman to Oklahoma City and back. In the past decade, thousands have ridden the Flyer.
→The depot is home to The Performing Arts Studio.
INFORMATION
For more information about the centennial celebration, call 307-9320 or e-mail pas@ thepas.org.
A week’s worth of activities are planned to celebrate the depot’s 100th anniversary, said
Debra Martinelli, director of The Performing Arts Studio, which is headquartered at the historic train station.
Vintage train cars will be on display daily at the depot through Nov. 21. In addition, railroad memorabilia will be presented, beginning Wednesday. "Depot Memories,” an oral history DVD, will be shown daily through Nov. 21.
The
Norman Community Choral Society will perform 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the depot.
Jones between Main and
Eufaula streets will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 20 for a daylong celebration, Martinelli said.
The
Norman High School and
Norman North High School bands will perform at noon followed by remarks from city and state dignitaries. Broadway Kids from the Sooner Theatre Studio will perform from 5 to 6 p.m. Birthday cake will be served at 6:15 p.m., and the
John Arnold Band will perform beginning at 7 p.m.
All events are free and open to everyone, Martinelli said.
The first Santa Fe Railroad passenger train came through what would become Norman on June 13, 1887. As train travel gained popularity, the original modest frame depot became increasingly inadequate.
In early 1909, a citizens railroad committee convinced the railroad to build a larger, more modern depot. On Nov. 18, 1909, the contractors of the new red brick station handed over the keys.
In 1999,
Amtrak service returned to the depot with the
Heartland Flyer, which runs daily between Norman and
Oklahoma City. In the past, thousands have ridden the Flyer.
The depot is home to The Performing Arts Studio, which provides fine arts programming. The depot also is available for rental for meetings and special events.
For more information about the centennial celebration, call 307-9320 or e-mail
pas@thepas.org.
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So Norman is a whistle stop. Actually its a cigarette stop for the Heartland Flyer. It stops for 5 minutes to take on any possible waiting passengers but you can light up if you get back on in time before the warning whistle.