East Tennessee and Western North Carolina (ET&WNC) - Johnson City Depot
Every Johnson Citian recognizes this iconic structure as the very first depot in what was then known as Johnson's Tank or Johnson's Depot. Henry Johnson purchased land from Abraham Jobe in 1856 to build a store and residence, which would also become a post office and a depot. He also constructed a water tank for the railroad he knew was coming. In Johnson City 150 Years, Tanner Cook states that Johnson "was the first to see real potential in the area."
This Burr Harrison photograph, dated 1886, features the wooden Station for East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad. ET&WNC originally used the ETV&G depot, which is listed as Buffalo Street in the Johnson City Directory 1908-1909. Located across the tracks from the site of Henry Johnson's Depot, the chimney of Hoss House may be seen above the roof of the station. This predecessor to the Southern was dismantled when a new depot was built for the Southern and ET&WNC railroads. This site is currently Fountain Square.
A union depot was built in 1891 to be shared by ET&WNC and Southern. Tipton Jobe gave the land for the depot with the stipulation that if the railroad failed to use the property, it would revert back to the Jobe heirs.
The ET&WNC route ran from Johnson's Depot to Cranberry, North Carolina, mainly carrying iron ore. Ironically, the ET&WNC was built as narrow gauge because it was economical. In the end, the limitations played a part in its demise. In the 1920s, timber supplies were depleted. In 1929, Cranberry Furnace in Johnson City closed. The Johnson City Directory 1931, lists the address as Wilson Avenue at Buffalo.
During the 1930s, the Great Depression caused a decrease in passenger service with trains being mixed, hauling both freight and passengers.
In this photo, Passenger Coach #23 sits at the depot.
Traffic increased during WWII, but afterwards the decline escalated. Highway improvements increased travel by bus and car, and airplane travel also contributed to the demise of passenger service. According to Johnny Graybeal in Along the ET&WNC Volume III, regular passenger service ended in 1940.
ET&WNC branched out into bus service as evidenced in this photo. The depot operated for both train and depot purposes.
By 1950, the ET&WNC's movement was limited between Johnson City and Elizabethton.
This undated drawing from the James A Goforth Collection depicts alterations and improvements to the the ET&WNC Depot grounds in Johnson City.
Map of ET&WNC Connections
In The History of Washington County Tennessee 1988, the ET&WNC is credited with opening a "totally isolated area, provided a vital service and won the hearts of its people only to be replaced by technology." The building was sold in 1983.
Free Service Tire Store, founded in 1919, occupied the depot for decades beginning in 1984. This photo, dated 1993, is the view of the entrance from Buffalo Street. Significant architectural changes were made to the building.
Today...
The former ET&WNC Depot has been beautifully restored to the former Richardsonian Romanesque design with hipped roof, raking eaves with brackets, two small vented, and one central, arched-window gable dormers, one-over-one windows, with a designed window on top, two visible chimneys, and a plank sidewalk encompassing all sides.
This view of the former ET&WNC depot is taken from the former CC&O Building located across West State of Franklin.
Tony Kraft, manager of Yee-Haw Brewery, kindly gave a tour of the facility, explaining that the brick mounts holding the brackets are original.
Restored sidewalks encompass three sides of the building. The protruding three-sided bay window is typical for depot ticket windows.
While taking these photographs, the experience became very real as a Norfolk Southern train roared past.
This photo from the James T. Dowdy, Sr. Collection , of East Tennessee & Western North Carolina #11; Johnson City, Tennessee, was taken from Clinchfield Depot c1940s.
Today's view of the former ET&WNC depot taken from the same portico of the former CC&O depot, is in reference to the photo above. Both of these iconic buildings are still standing together, dominating Buffalo Street for over 100 years.
Now home to Yee-Haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco, at the corner of Buffalo Street and the tracks adjacent to what is now West State of Franklin Road, the former ET&WNC depot lives on in the history of Johnson City.