Meadow Depot
Meadow, Terry County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Meadow was founded in 1904 on public land grazed by L-7 Ranch herds; village moved to this site on the Santa Fe Railway line in 1917. Soon settlers were arriving with livestock in one end of a boxcar, furniture in the other. A boxcar was used as a station. This depot was built in 1911 at White Deer (200 mi. NE), moved here in 1923, used until 1965, then given to the community and relocated in the park (1967) as a relic of the town's early development. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1975
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Meadow began in 1904 on open land grazed by the L-7 Ranch, then moved in 1917 to meet the Santa Fe Railway line — settlers famously arriving in boxcars, livestock in one end and furniture in the other. A boxcar first served as the station until this depot, built in 1911 far to the northeast at White Deer, was moved here in 1923 and used until 1965. Preserved in a park in 1967, it survives as a relic of the town's railroad beginnings.
Why it matters
The relocated depot is a tangible emblem of how the railroads planted and provisioned towns across the West Texas plains in the early 20th century.
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Themes & tags
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