Gulf Mobile and Ohio station in Mobile, AL

[schlimm]

It never served Amtrak, which used the old L&N station, but this is still standing and looks fantastic..

Johnny Deggesty might have some stories.

[Deggesty]

Sorry; I never saw the GM&O station in Mobile. Except for spending the night in Mobile on two occasions, I passed through there. By the time I was ble to travel at will, the L&N provided the only passenger service. I did toy witht he idea of asking permission to go down from Aliceville and back on the AT&N.

Johnny Degges ("ty" is an addendum to my family name which no one else has) 

[NorthWest]

They have also nicely restored the interior, which has a restored waiting room and small display on the history of the GM&O, which was formed three decades after the terminal was built. Grooves remain in the floor where passengers would line up to board.

Adjacent to the building is a decrepit and boarded up brick structure with large "SOUTHERN" lettering over the door; I think this may have been a yard office.

[Deggesty]

The M&O/GM&O and Southern used the same station--so that could well have been the Southern yard office.

[schlimm]

Built in 1907 for the M&O in Spanish Mission Revival style.  Surprising to me.  Are there any other buildings in that style in Mobile?

[BaltACD]

From the size of it, I am guessing that it may have been designed to be the headquarters of the M&O at the time it was built?????

[Deggesty]

BaltACD

From the size of it, I am guessing that it may have been designed to be the headquarters of the M&O at the time it was built?????

 

In 1917, the headquarters were listed as being at the Union Terminal in Mobile, New York City, and Washington (Fairfax Harrison was the President).

Incidentally, thjs was one railroad that reached the terminii in its name--Mobile and the Ohio River.

[wanswheel]

National Park Service calls the style Neo-Spanish Colonial.

http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/75000323.pdf

Philip Thornton Marye (1872-1935) served in Cuba in the Spanish-American War. Perhaps he admired the architecture down there. He also designed stations in Atlanta and Birmingham.

[Deggesty]

wanswheel

National Park Service calls the style Neo-Spanish Colonial.

http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/75000323.pdf

Philip Thornton Marye (1872-1935) served in Cuba in the Spanish-American War. Perhaps he admired the architecture down there. He also designed stations in Atlanta and Birmingham.

 

A little more on the architect: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/p-thornton-marye-1872-1935 Sad to say, I could find no mention of the Mobile station in the article. I did realize the origin of the name "Marye's Height" in Fredericksburg; apparently the family lived on a noticeable height there.

[Deggesty]

That station in Atlanta was magnificent; I made use of it many times. I also used the station in Birmingham many times, and was sorry to see it go.

[wanswheel]

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evm00002560mets.xml#

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, January 29, 1899

HOME FROM CUBA. Captain P. Thornton Marye, of Company C, Fourth Virginia Regiment, is in the city on his way to his home, at Newport News. He is just from Cuba on leave of absence. Captain Marye is the son of Colonel Morton Marye; he is very much pleased with Cuba and says the country affords great possibilities for those who want to engage in business.

Manufacturer’s Record, April 25, 1907

MOBILE'S NEW STATION

Handsome Railroad Terminal Opened for Two Prominent Companies.

The new and handsome union terminal station at Mobile, Ala., which has been under construction for more than a year, was formally opened for use during the past week, and will hereafter be devoted to handling the business of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and the Southern Railway. The station is situated on Beauregard street, occupying the block between Royal and St. Joseph streets. It has a frontage of 195 feet and faces southward. Its depth is 147½ feet and the total length of the station and train shed is 600 feet. The building is three stories high, in the Spanish renaissance style, and is surmounted by a handsome dome. It is of reinforced concrete construction, with trimmings of pressed brick and terra cotta. The architect was Mr. P. Thornton Marye of Atlanta and the contractor was the Oliver Solitt Company of Chicago. The cost of the station was about $575,000. It has six tracks.

In addition to containing extensive accommodations for the traveling public, thestation building also has apartments for the local officials of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and the entire equipment of the structure is thoroughly modern and superior.

The opening of this new terminal was marked by appropriate ceremonies and a banquet, which were attended by a number of prominent residents of Mobile and other cities, including officials of the railroad companies.