Hartsel Depot: A Short History
By Scott Tate
The Hartsel Depot still stands on the same ground it was built on more than 120 years ago. The Colorado Midland Railway built the depot in the spring of 1887. This depot allowed many, if not all of the businesses to import goods and export livestock and hay on the railway. At the time it was a faster and more efficient way to transport. A mail and telegraph office were also made available to the small remote town. The railway brought tourists through the depot to soak in the hot springs, fish, hunt and stay at the hotel. The depot was the center of the hustle and bustle of this small town in the late 1800s and early 1900s. For more than 30 years Hartsel Depot did the job it was built for. However, in August 1918, the Colorado Midland Railway was shut down by the United States Railroad Administration and in the summer of 1921 they pulled up the tracks to reuse the metal.
Soon after that, the depression came, and the Hartsel Depot was used to house those without homes. A wall was added, some newer wall coverings and a stove or two. Not much was changed by the handful of families that stayed through the depression.
Then, the depot stood virtually vacant, with the exception of a few cows. Sometime in the 1950’s a painter painted the local barns and the depot red, along with a few other buildings. This made the depot fade into the background to the passing motorist. In its days as a depot it was a cream or almond colored body and had forest green trim. It also had a large loading dock that wrapped around the east end of the depot, from the north cargo door to the south cargo door. This loading dock can be seen in a few old photos from the south looking north.
In 1993 the towns’ people banded together to save Hartsel Depot, and thus, Hartsel Days was born. There was little awareness about the depot and its significance to the town in its vacant years. With the town and many others from all over in full support of rehabilitating the depot, this project will provide a place for people to learn about a time and place that has changed little in the past 100 years. Hartsel Depot has withstood the test of time and with our help will stand for another lifetime.
Soon after that, the depression came, and the Hartsel Depot was used to house those without homes. A wall was added, some newer wall coverings and a stove or two. Not much was changed by the handful of families that stayed through the depression.
Then, the depot stood virtually vacant, with the exception of a few cows. Sometime in the 1950’s a painter painted the local barns and the depot red, along with a few other buildings. This made the depot fade into the background to the passing motorist. In its days as a depot it was a cream or almond colored body and had forest green trim. It also had a large loading dock that wrapped around the east end of the depot, from the north cargo door to the south cargo door. This loading dock can be seen in a few old photos from the south looking north.
In 1993 the towns’ people banded together to save Hartsel Depot, and thus, Hartsel Days was born. There was little awareness about the depot and its significance to the town in its vacant years. With the town and many others from all over in full support of rehabilitating the depot, this project will provide a place for people to learn about a time and place that has changed little in the past 100 years. Hartsel Depot has withstood the test of time and with our help will stand for another lifetime.