Account: Train Depot
Damage
from the Annandale Advocate, December 29,
1949
Poles Wrecked Soo Line Depot Monday Morning – Heavy
Damage
The Annandale Fire Department answered an early Monday
morning call to the Soo Line Depot, which was threatened by fire.
The stove in the waiting room had been knocked over by one of the poles,
which ripped through the building.
Quick work with extinguishers saved the structure.
A regularly scheduled through freight headed east
approximately 5:45 a.m. had loads of poles on flat cars.
One load of poles broke loose and smashed into the depot, causing heavy
damage The small outbuilding was
completely demolished, the west end of the station is bulged out, and the floor
in the coal room is sagged down.
Several poles crashed through the walls and entirely wrecked the bay window of
the office, smashing on into the waiting room, demolishing benches, furniture
and tipping over the stove. In the
office of Agent C.A. Hausken, only one 3-drawer section of his large desk is
intact. Switches and wires were
damaged. Some of the poles snapped
in two or more pieces as they ripped into the building.
A window and the door of the waiting room are smashed and the frame is in
splinters. Poles were scattered
along the tracks from the depot up to the last east crossing.
Poles were up to 78 feet in length.
Workmen have been clearing away the wreckage and boarding
up the window and door openings. A
temporary office and waiting room will be established in the former ladies
waiting room, which received the least damage.
See the Annandale Depot at Annandale's Minnesota Pioneer Park.
See Carol Weir's presentation to History Club on Annandale Depot and Train Wrecks
See Don Hausken's presentation to History Club on Soo Line RR & Annandale Depot