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Building History

Architect William B. Storey, Chief Engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad, designed this two-floor, Mission Revival Style station for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) Railway.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe's landscape gardener, Johannes Reimers, planted four Saint John's Bread trees outside the depot, that were still growing there in 1954. An article in Fresno Bee discussed them in 02/1954: “The female does all the work. The male just stand [sic] around and takes things easy. That is the story of four St. John’s Bread trees [the] Santa Fe Railway has been cultivating at its passenger depot for more than half a century. The St. John’s Bread trees, less well known as Ceratonia Siliqua, or Carob, have grown from seeds planted at the depot before the turn of the century by Johannes Reimers. He brought the seeds from Arabia. The tree is native to Asia Minor and Syria. In the Mediterranean Basin edible pods from the female tree are used as a forage crop. The female, large and full, yields fruit in the form of brown pods which are from 4 to 12 inches long. The pods which bloom in March or April, contain a sugary, edible pulp, which can be used as forage for cattle, as part of concentrated food stock and a cereal composition for human consumption. The male tree is smaller than the female and less full. It bears no fruit and serves only to pollinate the female tree. Angus Marshall, the company’s horticulturalist, says the alkaline content of the soil at the Fresno station is well suited to the St. John’s Bread. He declares no special care has been necessary in nursing the trees. They are adapted to a hot, dry climate and alkaline soil. The huge, curved trunks and trees attach the attention and unusual foliage of the female interest of many travelers. Marshall posted a sign at the depot to inform the passerby of the history of the trees. One Fresno woman was so fascinated by their appearance, she wrote to invoke assurance nothing would be done to cause removal of the trees from the Fresno station.” (See "Gardening News: Trees Growing in Fresno Are Unique," Fresno Bee, 02/07/1954, p. 30-D [consecutively numbered 81].)

The building was altered and added onto in 1909, 1912, and 1917. It was remodeled in 1940.