This depot is now used for storage behind
Paul's Hardware Store. As of Oct., 1977, the structure was still
wearing the peeling yellow and brown paint of the Harriman era.
The "Elba" signboards were still intact on it.
On January 27, 1969, the NSRC granted the railroad permission
to close the Elba agency.
The depot moved to a new site behind Julesgard store in 1971.
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Elba
Depot ca.1960 |
The Julesgards were the third party to
have acquired the former depot, the initial party having leased
it on site for storage, with the windows boarded up at that
time. The local elevator then purchased the depot, intending
to move it to a new locale, reinforce the walls, and use it
as a granary. Unable to attain the desired land, the elevator
sold it to the Julesgards who were in need of storage space,
bought the depot for $100 from the elevator and had it moved
by truck. the cost of moving, done by Williams Brothers of Hastings,
was $900 for the moving and $180 to temporarily remove overhead
wires.
Mrs. Julesgard said the elevator had gutted the depot interior
in preparation of their intended use for it, so all interior
partitions had been removed by the time of their acquisition.
The trouble was experienced in moving the depot when the depot
was being angled into final position, the rear portion of the
truck fell into a "slough" resulting from an old ice-house
which had been on the site before and had been bulldozed under,
creating a soft spot in the area. The cement foundation under
the depot cracked in the middle due to the settling of the ground
under the heavy weight of the depot.
The depot is used for hardware storage, with Julesgards putting
a roll-up door in place of the regular baggage-room door so
as to allow use of a lift-cart in it. The loft was also constructed
in it for some special storage while Julesgards' son uses the
depot on occasion for his garage.
As of November 1978, depot was still in old paint scheme, though
Mrs. Julesgard voiced a desire to have the exterior refinished
sometime. Both signboards were still on the depot, though she
said one might be given to the Howard County Historical Society.
Offers have been made by individuals, and turned down, to buy
signs. They also refused an offer from a couple who wanted to
move the depot and convert it to a residence.
The last day of service by an agent at Elba was on May 29, 1969,
with the depot being closed then. |
