This temporary depot was probably put into service following a large fire at the Limon rail yards on June 28, 1910. That fire destroyed several freight cars, an oil storage building, and the existing depot. A new depot was built later that year.
Note the sign on the side of the passenger car that says, “Waiting Room – Ticket Office – Freight Express.” The man standing to the right of this sign is probably a station agent. Note what appears to be a stack of banged up milk cans to the right of the agent and the trunk In the right foreground. The term “Freight Express” probably relates to the rail car behind the passenger car, sporting a sign that says “American Express Co.” To the left of that sign and on the far side of the stairs running up to that car, the car is marked with what appears to be “CRI&P,” for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.
Note the boy standing next to the rail car holding a sign with the wording “For Rooms in Denver.” I haven’t been able to make out all the wording, but I believe it references the ”Colorado FREE Information Bureau” at 1607 17th Street in Denver, “one block from the depot” and “endorsed by prominent ministers.” It concludes with “PARCELS CHECKED 5 cents.”
The building at the far right has signs for a land office and a drugstore.
I wonder if most, if not all, of the men and boys pictured are railroad employees – with the exception of the boy holding the sign and possibly the hatless man in the white shirt leaning against the telephone pole, they all appear to be wearing ties, even the man in the overalls.
REFERENCES:
- “Colorado Encyclopedia” at https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/limon-railroad-depot
