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Building History

The Sumner Sellit Company constructed this 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival Style train depot for Claremont, CA, notable for its Baroque Churrigueresque ornamentation around its main entry. Architects working for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) Railway produced the design.

Judy Wright, Director of the Claremont Historic Resources Center, prepared the National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the depot in 1981. She underscored that it became a centerpiece for modernization in the new Claremont emerging in the 1920s: "The 1920s saw Claremont change from a rural community to an urbanized small town.Sidewalks were laid, streets paved, and sewers installed. C-laranont also officially became involved in city planning. One of the first major products of this sense of progress and planning, was tlpe construction of the new Santa Fe pepot. The railroad, encouraged by the development of the community around the new colleges (Claremont Graduate School, 1925 and Scripps, 1926) and the growing citrus industry, built the second Claremont depot in a California style intended to symbolize the Spanish heritage of California. It was completed by November 10, 1927 to coordinate with the anniversary of Pomona College (1887) and the incorporation of the City of Claremont (1907). The new civic center was designed in the same style as the depot. The depot was the focal point and cornerstone for the second generation of commercial development of M Claremont. The new depot also assumed all of the functions of the old depot and became the new transportation center for the colleges and the citrus Industry." (See Judy Wright, National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Station," published 11/30/1981, accessed 11/21/2018.)

The ATSF operated rail service into Claremont until 1967, when it closed the passenger terminal. Vandals broke into the vacant building and started a fire in 1968, prompting the ATSF to gut the building of its electrical and HVAC services. In 1980, James B. Salter and Associates of Claremont bought the property.

Building Notes

This ATSF Claremont Depot #2 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, level of significance: Local.