The former Rock Island Railroad depot in Hazen is shown on May 4. The city, which now owns the historic depot, has not yet determined how it will be used. Photo by Michael Hibblen
I wrote this story for The Grand Prairie Herald newspaper in Hazen, which was published on July 28.
The latest round of restoration work on Hazen’s historic Rock Island Railroad depot should be finished in the coming weeks, leaving city leaders with a new challenge: deciding how the century-old landmark should be used.
Mayor David Hardke said the city has invested heavily in preserving the depot and wants to ensure it remains in good condition while also finding a purpose that allows the public to enjoy and appreciate it.
“I’m very protective of it right now because we’ve spent quite a bit of money last year and this year,” Hardke said. “But I want it to be a historical structure that people can see. It’ll take you back in time, of course.”
The depot, which was constructed in 1915, is today owned by the city. When it opened, the line through Hazen was part of an important route for the Rock Island that carried passenger trains between Memphis and Amarillo, Texas. The shipping of freight was also extremely important.
The current phase of work addressed drainage and foundation problems on the east side of the building, where a freight room once stood.
“It was slanted a little bit toward the building, which allowed water that stood there to seep into the understructure, and that caused a major problem,” Hardke said. “With grant funds, we were able to raise that level outside on the east side of the building and use concrete to divert water away from the building.”
The project also included refinishing the depot’s hardwood floors and repainting interior walls. Work remains to be completed in two bathrooms and a small utility room.
The interior of the former white waiting room at the Hazen Rock Island Depot. Built in 1915, the station was legally required to feature racially segregated passenger spaces under Arkansas’ Jim Crow laws. Photo: Michael Hibblen
Rock Island memorabilia is currently in the projecting telegrapher’s booth of the depot. Photo: Michael Hibblen
A future phase of work, which will be covered by another grant, will modernize the depot’s electrical wiring.
“It’s pretty scary,” Hardke said.
Additional exterior lighting will also be installed to improve security and safety.
History of the depot
The Rock Island depot was built in 1915 as Hazen was experiencing significant agricultural and economic growth. It replaced an earlier depot built in the 1870s by the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad, which was the first railroad to operate in Arkansas.
Following the decline of passenger rail service after World War II, the last regularly scheduled passenger train came through Hazen in November 1967. The Rock Island donated the depot to the city in the 1970s, but it sat vacant for years until the boarded-up structure looked like it was about to collapse.
According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, former Mayor Kathryn Orlicek led efforts to raise money for its restoration, which began in 1987. The freight room was too deteriorated to save, although its brick façade remains. That same year, the depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Volunteers worked to restore the depot in 1987 after it had fallen into disrepair. Photo: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
The interior of what was the white passenger waiting room of the Hazen depot as work to restore it was underway in 1987. Photo: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
Although the restoration work is nearly complete, Hardke said the city has not settled on a long-term use for the building.
In recent decades, the depot has served as a community meeting space and tourist information center. But Hardke said a key concern was that frequent public use also resulted in wear and tear. While he wants the building to remain accessible, he envisions a use that generates less foot traffic.
“I’ve been asked, can there be community meetings there like the Chamber of Commerce? I suppose so because we don’t have a place now for those types of meetings, although we do have the community center, which has a couple of rooms that would be available for meetings,” he said. “I’ll admit, I have not worked out a plan for the building.”
One possibility could be tying the depot to a broader recreational project. Hardke has discussed with state officials the idea of converting part of the former Rock Island Railroad right of way into a rails-to-trails system, similar to projects elsewhere that have become popular destinations for walking and bicycling.
After the railroad tracks were removed, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission acquired about 14 miles of the former right of way between Carlisle and DeValls Bluff, except for several miles acquired by the city of Hazen. In 1987, the land became the Railroad Prairie Natural Area to preserve remnants of the native Grand Prairie tallgrass ecosystem, which provides a habitat for several rare species.
Hardke said he has discussed the idea with the commission’s director, Dr. Jennifer Ballard.
“She thought it sounded interesting,” he said. “She presented it to those above her, and they thought, ‘You know, that does sound like a good idea.’ It had been thought about for years, but it just never got off the ground.”
Exactly how the depot would fit into such a project remains uncertain. For now, Hardke said his goal is to see the building open to visitors on a regular basis instead of remaining locked much of the time.
“It’s just a wonderful, wonderful old building that’s in pristine shape right now,” he said.
Veteran reporter, editor and manager at newspapers, radio and television stations. I’m also a photographer, historian and author, having written the 2017 book Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
