Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then & Now Collection."
STEVE HARMON
Hutch Post Contributor
Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the northeast corner of Avenue D and South Main.
About the time salt was discovered in Hutchinson, 1887, the number of railroads expanded greatly. They all wanted a piece of the shipping revenues of salt. There were a number of small lines everywhere but, by 1891, most of the small lines in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado were brought into the Rock Island system.
In 1900, Hutchinson gave the right to Rock Island to put in a spur track at Avenue D and Main. The first photo shows the new Rock Island Passenger Depot at that time.
As passenger business increased, improvements were made to the depot. The second photo shows the depot in 1910 (by Bailey).
The third photo shows the depot with a steam locomotive about 1930.
The fourth photo shows the newly-constructed depot about 1960.
That's about the time Rock Island started running into money problems. Union Pacific tried to merge with Rock Island but was denied by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
After a number of reorganizational attempts and bankruptcies, it shut down in 1980. Union Pacific ended up owning much of the Rock Island system. The fifth photo shows the Union Pacific Depot today, still on the same land, just in a different position.
To purchase a photo print, contact: [email protected].
Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:
Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum