The Union Depot History
The Union Depot is a large, former passenger train station built in 1889 and designed by architect Frank V. Newall of the Chicago firm Sprague and Newall in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Construction began in 1889 and the depot was finished a year later. It originally served five railroads, each of which had previously its own train station. By 1892, the depot served over 18,000 passengers and 51 trains a day. By 1917, a restaurant was added and the depot became a social gathering place.
A large banquet hall can accommodate up to 500 persons and is used for over 200 events yearly from wedding receptions to private parties. The third floor is home to 10 high-end loft apartments and the outer buildings occupy retail spaces and offices.
Since the depot opened, its most prominent feature is the large clock tower which houses a clock. The four sides of the clock atop its tower have been a focal point. Builders wanted the 150-foot tower to be visible from anywhere in the city and the clock faces, each seven feet in diameter, were built into each side.
The flood of 1921 caused several changes to the landmark. First, the tower itself was rebuilt at a lower height because of structural damage (it was previously 150 feet high). Second, the clock face on the west side was removed because it would no longer be visible over the depot’s rooftop. Third, the new faces were changed to glass.
The depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It is part of a shopping area called the Union Avenue District.
It is not clear when passenger train service ended, but renovations were conducted in the 1990s. The depot was purchased by a group of Puebloans led by Tim and Kati Miller for $250,000 from the FDIC sparking the rejuvenation of the Union Avenue district. Jim and Joe Koncilja bought the property in 2001 and continue to enhance its beauty.