The 1895-vintage Peoria Depot was acquired, and moved to the park on March 22, 1972, just as it was about to be demolished by its owner, the Santa Fe Railroad. It had been a station along the route of the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix Railway, which was nicknamed the “Peavine.” The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company closed the Peoria Station effective August 4, 1969, then transferring operations to the depot in Glendale, Arizona. E.V. O’Malley donated materials to restore the station after it was moved to the railroad park.48 Over the years at the park, the building has been used as a model train ‘knick knack’ and repair shop called Gerry’s Trains & Tools (run by Jerry Klei), and as a railroad museum.
DATE: March 22, 1972