STEILACOOM, Wash. — Efforts to save Steilacoom’s 1914 Northern Pacific depot, which remains largely intact though closed since 1972, are being revived, KIRO Radio reports, after having been dormant since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current owner BNSF Railway has been prepared to donate the building for several years, says Gus Melonas, a retired BNSF regional director of public relations who continues to serve as a consultant for the railroad. But it would have to be moved away from the BNSF main line.
“We’d love to see it survive, but it has to be moved off the property,” Melonas told KIRO. “And we’d like to see a plan developed with the city sooner rather than later.”
A 2020 study commissioned by the Steilacoom Historical Museum indicated this would cost at least $1.2 million, but that figure would only cover a move onto the nearest city-owned property, a parking lot that generates significant revenue. Museum curator Marianne Bull told the station that those interested in saving the structure “need to convince the [city] administration that it’s a fair trade-off to the value of Steilacoom to have it restored and in a new, reusable position.”
A specific use for the relocated building has not been determined, she said: “The architects advised us that it would probably be a good idea just to move forward, and then the context will reveal itself.”
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has listed the station among its “most endangered places” since 2018. It says the structure was designed by a noted local architect, Arthur Potter Merrill, and says that “due to its proximity to the waterfront, the adaptive use potential for the depot is high.”
Steilacoom is an awesome town I do a lot of rail photography in this area as very close to Lucas Landing which is the Pierce County ferry terminal for the Anderson Island, Ketron Island ferry. The Mcneil Island ferry also comes in here, but you probably don’t want the free ride to Mcneil Island as is a state prison, formerly a federal prison. I have used this depot many times in rail photo props. I agree with Chris, great location, could be great coffee shop small restaurant, anything. The property is not used for anything other than the depot and a few stray cars that park there.
It’s a shame it must be moved. Maybe the town could buy the property the depot sits on with the money that it would cost to move it. Then the railroad wouldn’t have any liability issues. I can’t imagine that the railroad has any use fur this particular piece of property other than to let it grow up in weeds.