Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Depot, Whittier, N.C.

  • wcu_travel-8.jp2
  • This picture of the Whittier, N.C., railway depot possibly dates from 1909. When enlarged, the 'Train Schedule' sign, seen at the far right of the building, appears to have a handwritten date of July 16, 1909. The 'Whittier' sign over the doorway lists 'Murphy 65.0 Miles' and 'Asheville 58.6 Miles,' which corresponds to the 1912 railroad guide The Western North Carolina Section at a Glance (Washington, D.C.: Southern Railway, Passenger Dept.). Another sign, above the two men at the corner of the building, reads 'Western Union Telegraph & Cable Office,' while a second sign above the center windows of the building reads 'Southern Express Company.' The 'Train Schedule' does not seem to list a full timetable of arrivals and departures, which may be explained by the fact that the rail line had been blocked by a cave-in at the Cowee Tunnel near Dillsboro, N.C., in late June 1909. In its July 30, 1909, issue, the Jackson County Journal (Sylva, N.C.) newspaper ran an article announcing resumption of regular train service after work crews had cleared the tunnel. In addition to being the town's center for freight and passenger service, the 1907 act of incorporation of Whittier set its limits at one half mile in all directions from the depot.