By Maya Barboa-Ojinaga, Museum Collections Specialist
In late 1974, the Colorado and Southern Train Depot in Windsor sat empty along the railroad tracks and was planned for demolition. The Depot, built in 1882, was an integral part of Windsor’s history, welcoming people and bringing goods into the community. Community members banded together to help save the Depot, knowing that demolition of the Depot would mean losing a piece of Windsor’s history. This group of community members named the project, “Restore the Depot.”
These community members and the Windsor Civic Committee, along with the help of Bob Hogan and Dr. Tom Jones, were able to meet with the Colorado and Southern Railway about obtaining the building. After several meetings, the Colorado and Southern Railway agreed to donate the building to the Civic Committee “and would furnish an area for $1 per year to relocate the structure,” according to the Windsor Beacon. With much relief, the next decisions to be made were where the Depot would be relocated and what it would be used for. Initial ideas for new use of the Depot included a museum, meeting rooms, or office space for the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.
By the beginning of January 1975, crews of volunteers along with the Colorado & Southern Railway began preparing the Depot and the new site for relocation. The Civic Committee also entered its next phase of saving the Depot, which included raising money for restorations and renovations of the building. Funds were raised through generous donations by members of the community and, through Bicentennial Donation Boxes lined down Windsor’s Main Street where people could donate pennies and coins based on how old they were.
On the morning of January 30, 1975, relocation of the Depot had begun. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place and was documented by Denver’s ABC affiliate, Channel 9. Despite some minor hiccups with the moving equipment, the Depot was successfully relocated to where it stands today as part of the Windsor History Museum.
Stay tuned for updates on our new exhibition in the Historic Train Depot, opening this summer!
