Blue Springs historic depot headed for demolition

BLUE SPRINGS, Missouri - Blue Springs may not strike you as a place with a lot of history.

But there’s actually quite a bit there, and when residents found one of their landmarks was slated for destruction, they mounted an effort to save it.

There's no disputing the railroad’s role in Blue Springs’ history.

Mary Potter of the Blue Springs Historical Society explains; "The whole town moved up here because of the train."

A Chicago and Alton train depot has stood beside the tracks here since 1879. The original burnt down in the '20s and the railroad rebuilt with the one that stands there now.

"People drive through town, they don't even pay any attention it's been there so long," said Susan Culpepper of the Blue Springs Planning Commission.

But some people in town paid attention when they found out Kansas City Southern, which now owns the depot, had applied for a demolition permit.

With the wrecking ball scheduled for Aug. 2, they've had to organize quickly.

"I think that's what we want to do is get the word out; maybe people start sending e-mails to Kansas City Southern, you know just like you would your congressman, say we really don't want this to happen," Michele Cole of the Blue Springs Historical Society said.

They want to save their home depot. The mayor wants to help.

"A letter's going out to them today," Mayor Carson Ross said.

He's asking the railroad for a delay. It's stood there this long, he figures why not a little longer.

"Give the citizens an opportunity to see if they can come up with a solution over the next 6 months to a year," the Mayor pleaded.

"For the community, for the children in our community to have a piece of history in the future, I think it's important," Cole said.

However, the depot is in disrepair. Even if the city assumed the liability for the building and put a fence around it, it would probably eventually need to be moved. And that’s something the mayor can’t help with.

“The city cannot offer money to do this, we’ve got too many other pressing issues to deal with,” he said.

Although moving the depot would be expensive, they have some experience here. The Chicago and Alton House hotel was moved the few blocks from beside the tracks to a lot adjacent to the Historical Society and Museum, and then restored.

So they’re confident they can save the depot. They are just asking for more time.

“The delay is absolutely what we need because we don’t have the funds to go forth until we have that delay so we can get all the rest of our ducks in a row,” Culpepper said.