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In the mid to late nineteenth century, the town of La Grange wanted a rail line for increased commerce and prestige. The first railroad, a Southern Pacific tap line, arrived in 1880. However, demand for railroads continued to grow. Not to be outdone, the Taylor, Bastrop & Houston Railway, a subsidiary of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (“M-K-T” or “Katy,”) built a line from the north that reached La Grange on August 17, 1887. The new line was widely celebrated since it connected farmers with northern markets. The M-K-T passenger depot was concurrently built to serve riders. However, on March 19, 1897, the M-K-K depot suffered a devastating fire which destroyed the building. It was rebuilt in November of the same year and has stood in the same location since.
The building has a distinctive green and yellow exterior, while the interior consists of an office with ticket windows, operator’s desk, telegraph and semaphore controls and two waiting rooms, a remnant of Jim Crow laws. Attached to the depot was an elevated freight area situated on a pier and beam foundation, measuring about 22 by 18 feet.
In 1911, a notable train carried former President Theodore Roosevelt, who stopped and spoke for five minutes to a large crowd of citizens. However, rail could not compete with the rise of the automobile. Service slowed midcentury. The Southern Pacific line abandoned its track between Glidden and La Grange, leaving only the Katy operating here. The Katy ended passenger service to La Grange in 1957, and in 1967, ended passenger service nationwide. M-K-T was absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad in 1988, and freight trains continue to utilize the tracks. The company closed its office in the depot in 1983. Since then, the city of La Grange has restored the depot as a museum to celebrate their transportation history. (RTHL - 2022) |
