Raleigh’s Union Depot
This week’s Flashback Friday postcard features Union Depot, Raleigh’s first centrally located train station. It opened in 1892 — and believe it or not, the building is still standing today.
The station was called “union” because it served Raleigh’s three passenger rail lines of the time. It is known as a “stub-end” station, meaning arriving trains had to back into the platform from the main track.
On the back of this postcard is a hand-written message, apparently from a young Raleigh swain to his distant sweetheart.
118 Polk St
Raleigh NC
Sept. 18th 1913
Little friend I am so glad you are enjoying your basket ball sport. It is good exercise for a person. How about the dances down there now? Would like to be in Key West to night with you. Will go to a show here I guess. A big circus here tomorrow. Big day.
your friend. Cullen
You can read more about Union Depot and its railroad history on a favorite local blog of ours, The Raleigh Connoisseur.
“Flashback Friday” is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!
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03/11/2011
I love this. The 100 block of Polk Street is now a sea of surface parking lots. What used to be in the spot of the sender’s return address?
03/11/2011
According to the 1918/19 Raleigh City Directory, 118 Polk was the home of Jessie M. Prevost, who was an auditor for the James Lumber Company. The James Lumber Company was located in Durham, but had an office in the Citzens Bank Building. Wonder if Cullen was Jessie’s son.
According to that directory, there were SIXTY passenger trains a day!
03/11/2011
Actually found an online version of the 1911/12 directory that indicates “Charles H. Garvin” lived at 118 Polk. Charles’ occupation is listed as a conductor.
03/11/2011
Gorgeous postcard. I very much wish that the clock tower was still standing today.
03/11/2011
John — 118 Polk was your typical late 19th century Raleigh two-story frame residence. I well remember that neighborhood from the mid-1960s; by the mid-1970s nearly every structure around there had been demolished.
NCSU — my 1914 city directory lists a Thomas Alexander, an engineer, living at 118. With such a high turnover in occupancy in barely six years, the house was probably a rental.
Leo — yes, the depot building must have been awesome in its day. It would be grand if it were restored and the tower rebuilt!
05/14/2012
There is a restaurant at the southwest corner of the intersection of W Martin and S Dawson just across the street from the Union Depot buidling. In past years it was known as the Union Depot Restaruant, and later Warren’s Restaurant. What is the name of that restaurant today? I cannot determine the name from the Google Stree View listing as the illuminated sign simply says, “Restaurant.”
05/15/2012
@ralieghnative, it was Joe’s Place for a long time. Shortly after Joe’s closed it became Cherry Bomb. Cherry Bomb lasted all of three minutes and shortly thereafter became Brewmasters Bar and Grill.