On Monday, June 21, 2010, I had a tour of the renovated Argenta Rock Island depot off Broadway (US Highway 70) in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (North Little Rock was called Argenta early in the 20th Century). A few years ago, this old Rock Island depot was renovated and is now being run by the Sherman Park Community Development Corporation of North Little Rock (Sherman Park Community Development Corporation, Rock Island Argenta Train Depot, 1201 East 4th Street, North Little Rock AR, 501-372-4050)

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LEFT-The Rock Island tracks used to run to the right of the trees. This was along the Rock's Tucumcari, New Mexico to Memphis, Tennessee "Sunbelt Line" that was mostly abandoned and dismantled in the mid 1980s. (This is the same line that ran past the Brinkley, Arkansas  Depot Museum, where I volunteer at times). It is now run by the Sherman Park Community Development Corporation of North Little Rock and is located at 4th and Beech Streets, which is a block north of Broadway (US 70). The tracks here ran west-east. RIGHT-South side, or street side, of the depot. Several people, including children, showed up right after I took this picture.


RIGHT-Inside the east waiting room of the depot. Note the tiles. These are exactly the same kind and design as the ties on the floor of the Brinkley depot.


LEFT-According to the lady giving me the tour, the wood in the windows was original to the 1913 depot. This was the ticket office.RIGHT- The depot is also used as a day care center and is used at least 3 or 4 times a week for this purpose.


LEFT-Looking up in the baggage room on the west side of the depot. RIGHT-Art made from objects found in the area.


LEFT-This is a wall in a former bathroom in the depot which was painted years ago. The lady said there was something written on this wall barely showing through the paint. It was written during WWI referring to the Kaiser of Germany. I enhanced the photo to the right and you can see the word "Kaiser' but I can't make out most of the other words. RIGHT-You can see "KAISER" to the left of the vertical line and I think it says "BOYS" to the right. Anyone have any ideas what else this bathroom graffiti says?


LEFT-The roof is in relatively good shape, but has begun to leak due to all the rain we've been having the past year. RIGHT-The depot from the west side.


LEFT-Taken from the northwest corner, you can see the foundation of a signal.


LEFT-One railroad tie on the old main line.

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