Historic LB RR Depot -- Preserved And Moved (With Difficulty) To Willow Springs Park For Re-Use As New Visitor Center -- Is Destroyed In Overnight Fire; Cause Is Under Investigation

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(Sept. 16, 2016) -- Long Beach's historic Southern Pacific RR depot -- preserved and transported (with considearble difficulty) to the highest point in the city atop Willow Springs Park (Orange Ave. b/w Willow and Spring Sts.) -- was destroyed in an overnight fire today. Sums were budgeted in the City's FY16 budget to prepare the structure for re-use as a visitor or information center at the rustic park.

The major question -- how did this fire get started? -- is under investigation, LBFD says.

[Scroll down for further.]

Photo source: LBFD

[LBFD text] Long Beach Fire responded to an early morning blaze at Willow Springs Park. Unfortunately, the historic Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was destroyed. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Additional assistance was provided by L.A. County Fire Engine 60 from Signal Hill.
The Depot, originally built in 1907 near Broadway and Pacific Avenue, was the sole survivor of the three railroad stations that once served Downtown Long Beach around the turn of the last century. It was relocated once before, in 1936, to the Public Service Yard on San Francisco Avenue near West Anaheim Street, where it served for many years as the City’s Material and Chemical Testing Laboratory before being used for storage.
The Depot was moved to the southwest corner of Willow Springs Park, near the site of former railroad tracks that had been used by the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad.
The Depot was 66 feet long and 30 feet wide, and was built in the Mission Revival style.
The Depot was undergoing a multi-year restoration process prior to being re-opened to the public where it was intended to serve as a visitor center for Willow Springs Park.
This is a tragic loss for our City.

Sums had been budgeted in the FY16 City budget for its restoration (details on this coming on LBREPORT.com.)