Oregon Electric Railway Passenger Station
The Oregon Electric Railway Passenger Station is a historic railroad station in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was built in 1914 as a station for the Oregon Electric Railway and was designed by A. E. Doyle.
Oregon Electric Railway Passenger Station | |
Location in Eugene, Oregon Oregon Electric Railway Passenger Station (Oregon) | |
Location | Eugene, Oregon, USA |
---|---|
Coordinates | 44°03′16″N 123°05′32″W |
Built | 1914 |
Architect | A. E. Doyle |
Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 79002087 |
Added to NRHP | March 13, 1979 |
Passenger service by the Oregon Electric Railway was discontinued in 1933, and the station was used as an office and for storage.[1]
Slate Tractor opened an Allis-Chalmers dealership in Eugene on October 22, 1937 with a temporary location on 7th Avenue, moving to the Oregon Electric Station building February 3, 1938.[2] Shortly thereafter, on July 15, 1938, Edward C. (E.C.) Papé purchased the dealership, starting what is now known as The Papé Group, Inc.[3] E.C. operated his dealership at the station for 4 years before relocating the business to a location on West 1st Street.[4]
In 1961, the station became a branch of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), the Southwest Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (SWOMSI).[5] After breaking with OMSI in 1978, the Willamette Science and Technology Center (WISTEC) sold the station and gave the proceeds to Lane County to build a children's museum in Alton Baker Park.[5] SWOMSI's displays included train cars adjacent to the building. The train cars became part of the dining facilities for later restaurants located in the station.[6]
Work began to convert the station into a restaurant in 1977.[7] The first restaurant in the space was called "Andy's Eugene Station".[6]
The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as the Oregon Electric Railway Passenger Station, in 1979.[8]
The Oregon Electric Station restaurant operated in the station until permanently closing in 2020.[9] As of 2021, the Lane County History Museum was looking at moving from its original location next to the Lane County Fairgrounds to the railway station.[10]
References
- Oregon Electric Station history
- "Tractor Company in New Quarters". The Eugene Guard. February 3, 1938.
- "Tractor Firm Purchased by Local Company". The Eugene Guard. July 15, 1938.
- Archival documents of The Pape Group, Inc.
- The Science Factory: About Us
- Architectural Associates: Oregon Electric Station
- "This Week In History". The Register-Guard. May 13, 2007.
- "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- Young, Olivia. "Local Restaurants Are Excited to Open Up to Indoor Dining Under New 'High Risk' Category". KPIC/KVAL.
- Hunt, Chelsea (June 15, 2021). "History Museum Eyes Move to Oregon Electric Station". KEZI.
External links
- Oregon Electric Station history
- Historic photos of Oregon Electric Passenger Station from the University of Oregon Libraries