The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Orange Historical Commission and the Texas Historical Commission are pleased to announce the Orange Southern Pacific Depot at 1210 Green Avenue in Orange, Texas has qualified for and now received a State Historical Marker. The marker will be unveiled at a special ceremony at the Depot on Thursday, March 7, 5-7 PM.

In attendance will be Orange Mayor Larry Spears and other city councilmen, members of the Friends of the Orange Depot and guests. Following the ceremony, which is open to the public, a reception will be held inside the Depot.

The historical marker signifies that the Depot structure is now a Registered Texas Historical Landmark. To qualify, a structure must be in excess of 50 years old, in substantially the same condition as when constructed, and demonstrate a significant impact on the history of the community and the State.

The application was submitted to Austin by the Orange County Historical Commission, a local adjunct of the State Commission appointed by Orange County Commissioner’s Court, led by Chairman Jerry V. Pennington.

The commission was greatly assisted by the Friends of Orange Depot and President Carrie Woliver.

The original plans for the building were located and the renovations were documented as being authentic.

To establish the historical significance of the building, the history and economic importance of railroads in Orange was also documented.

The application was then sent to the Texas State Historical Commission in Austin where it was reviewed by a committee of 15 persons who then voted upon the award.

That documentation, photographs, and the application is now on file and available to the public and educational entities for future reference.

After the marker is installed at the Orange Depot it will be available to view by any interested persons who wish to know how the Depot fits into the fabric and the development of the City of Orange. It will join a long line of many other markers about the County which will perpetually reflect the County’s history.