Dear Governor Stevens

Today we have a Northern Pacific Railway ad from the April 2, 1953 Arlington Times, celebrating the achievements of Washington State's first Territorial Governor, Isaac Stevens (1818-1862), for his role in bringing the transcontinental railroad to the Puget Sound.

Stevens set out west in 1853 and eventually determined two possible routes: from Walla Walla west, paralleling the Columbia River, to Portland; and across Snoqualmie Pass over the Cascade Mountains.

Northern Pacific completed the route along the Columbia in 1883, while the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway completed a line through Snoqualmie Pass in 1909.

Interestingly enough, Stevens Pass, the Great Northern Railway's route over the Cascade mountains, was not named for Governor Stevens, but for surveyor John Stevens, who had been promised the honor by James J. Hill.

It should be noted that at the time this ad was published, business interests such as the railroads still regarded Isaac Stevens as a trailblazing pioneer. In more recent times, however, his reputation has diminished as there is more awareness of his actions while in his dual role as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

Stevens in fact was responsible for facilitating several key treaties in 1854 and 1855, including the Treaty of Point Elliot which created the Tulalip Reservation west of Marysville. But his means of "compelling" tribal leaders to sign the treaties consisted of intimidation and violence.  

"Greater things to come," indeed. Less than 20 years after this ad was printed, the Northern Pacific would merge with the Great Northern Railway, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, forming Burlington Northern Railroad.

Arlington Depot Grand Opening - be there!

This is the old Arlington Northern Pacific Railroad depot, photographed sometime in the 1960s.

It's a long story which I can probably cut shorter.

I really only had a small part in the overall project -- in 2007, when I was a commissioner on the City of Arlington's Parks, Arts & Recreation Board, I had been researching Arlington's original Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern/Northern Pacific/Burlington Northern depot, which still existed, but had been moved out of town in 1983. I had the bright idea it could be moved it back to town and restored.

When that plan clearly wasn't feasible, I put together a proposal -- which wasn't necessarily a new idea around town -- to build a replica of the depot. I presented it to my fellow board members, and we passed a resolution in support.

But City of Arlington Recreation Manager Sarah Lopez describes the process much better in her press release:

The PARC commission recommended to City Council that this new facility could serve as the Centennial Trail trailhead facility, a visitor information center, with public restrooms and a meeting/ exhibition space. The proposed location would be the property located between Legion Park and City Hall next to BNSF rail yard siding. The Arlington City Council approved to move forward with the project. Plans were made for a more affordable, scaled down, version of the depot.

In 2010, the City applied for and received several grants to fund the “depot” project. After successfully applying for the WA State Recreation and Conservation grant, the State notified the city that their funding was not available. The City did receive a grant from the Arlington Hotel/Motel Tax fund for $48,000, a donation of $5,000 from the Burlington Northern Railroad Foundation, and the generous gift of $1,000 from a private citizen. State Representative Kirk Pearson was able to secure $110,000 in grant funds from the State Capital Budget in 2011. This money enabled the city to break ground in December 2011.

Original concept of the depot facility, created by artist Darwin Hennings in 2010. Courtesy City of Arlington.

While I had to step down from the Board not long after due to health issues and work obligations, as you can see, some very committed people in city and state government continued on, and now the Arlington Depot restroom and visitor information facility will have a grand opening event this coming weekend.

The new facility waiting for finishing touches, 2012. Photo courtesy the City of Arlington.

I'm very pleased and humbled to have been invited to help cut the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony at noon Saturday, April 28.

But that's not all that's happening on Saturday. It's a day long event:

• At 10:30 a.m. group bike rides start on the Centennial Trail (meet in the Legion Park parking lot, 114 N. Olympic Ave.), with two rides to choose from: A short ride to Bryant for youngsters and slower paced cyclists; and a quicker paced ride for bike enthusiasts south on the trail. Riders are encouraged to bring a can of food for the Arlington Food Bank. 
•  T-shirts commemorating the opening will be available for purchase with an artistic print created by Caroline Sumpter. 
• Arlington Rotary Club and the Kiwanis of Arlington will be hosting refreshments for the event.
• Starting at 11:30 a.m., the Brass Menagerie Band performs old time music.
• Vintage cars, tractors, and old time machinery will also be on display.
• At noon, the ribbon cutting takes place with special guests State Representative Kirk Pearson, Mayor Barb Tolbert, Council member Marilyn Oertle and representatives from Arlington’s Park, Arts and Recreation Commission. 

It's not the exact replica I had proposed (i.e. probably a lot more expensive to build) but it certainly evokes the spirit of the old depot and I think really fits right in with the location between the Centennial Trail and the BNSF track siding.

And what's this? Now there's talk floating around town about my other "dream" (I'm not the only one whose had this idea either) of how to bring a tourist train to Arlington...