Bonne Terre, Missouri | Historic Depots

 

Bonne Terre Depot, taken by Jennie Moore

    Hello all and welcome! Today we are going to be looking at our 2nd historic railroad depot on the blog, that being one in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Off the bat, I will tell you that this is one of the most beautiful depots in southeast Missouri, and the most ornate depot I have seen in person. This structure is a gem in its community, and is one of the best examples of Bonne Terre's array of Victorian/Edwardian architecture. Built in 1909 by the Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railway, (I'll share more on that topic in future posts) it consists of two and a half stories, and boasts a mix of the Queen Anne and Stick style.

Car and Caboose beside Depot, taken by Jennie Moore

    The Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railway inaugurated their first portion of rail line in 1890, which ran from Bonne Terre to Riverside in Jefferson County. This was a time when mining in the area was in its prime, so a reliable rail route was a necessity to continue industrial growth. A depot was built in Bonne Terre in 1898, but it would be lost to fire. Its replacement would not be taken lightly, as elaborate plans for the present depot began. At its peak, the Bonne Terre Depot would see up to twelve trains per day. Activity would continue, until the 1950s when owner's St. Joseph Lead Co. moved operations westward. This would leave the once bustling station abandoned for over 30 years, despite being placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Bonne Terre Depot when abandoned, unknown photographer, reach out for credit

    This was until Doug and Catherine Goergens purchased the Bonne Terre Depot in 1989, with the intentions to restore it. With demolition diverted, new life would breathe into the historic landmark. The first floor would be turned into an English style pub, known as the Whistle Stop Saloon (which is open for certain events) along with an event space. Upstairs, you can find suites, as the Depot also serves as a Bed & Breakfast. Bonne Terre is a prime location for scuba divers, as the Bonne Terre Mines is home to one of the largest underground lakes in the world. Divers need a local place to stay, and the Depot is great for just that, especially because the Depot and Bonne Terre Mines are operated by the same people.

Depot photo taken by Cletus H. Faircloth in the 1950s, courtesy of Dennis Faircloth

    The photo above was taken by the late Cletus H. Faircloth around the 1950s, which I was generously given permission to use in this article by his son, Dennis Faircloth. Dennis is knowledgeable about the Mississippi and Bonne Terre Railway, and he is kind enough to speak with me in the future for my deep dive on the rail line, and allow me to show you more photos that his father had taken. Thank you Dennis for your help, and let us all remember his father who's photos and stories will aid us in preserving local history.

Bonne Terre Depot Antique Postcard

    

    Over the past 115 years, the Bonne Terre Depot has seen its fair share of imports, exports, and passengers. It was an architectural feat of its time, and is still one the most beautiful buildings in the area today. The construction of this railroad and Depot further elevated the booming local mining industry, and brought numerous jobs to St. Francois and Jefferson Counties in a time of expansion. We have the owners of the Depot to thank for its preservation, and I'll have to agree that this building is far too important to be lost to time. Thank you all for reading and I hope you learned something new. If you have any memories of the Bonne Terre Depot to share, leave a comment!