Old trackside structure foundation - what could it have been?

[CRL]

I’ve attached an overhead & side view of an old steam era trackside structure in Duncan, Arizona. I thought it might have been an old passenger/freight station, but the circled structures look like foundations from some type of bins or silos... grain/feed mill maybe? Any thoughts? Unfortunately, the Sanborn Map from 1914 doesn’t show the structure, but does show part of the siding leading to it.
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[dem34]

Probably coal bins next to an old depot.

[peteski]

Would Sanborn Fiew Maps be helpful?
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=17394.0

[John]

This might be a candidate

http://www.librarysample.org/greenleehistory/images/albumpics/Interstate%20Farmers%20Flour%20Mill.jpg

[CRL]

Probably coal bins next to an old depot.

This may be the answer. Thanks.

[John]

I messaged the county historical society on FB .. they responded that this was the old train depot ..

[CRL]

Thanks. I’ll have to follow up with them and see if they have any photos.

[fire5506]

Looking at the 1914 Sanborn map the station was on the other side of the tracks. Nothing showed where you have circled. So what ever it was it had to have been built after 1914.

[John]

Looking at the 1914 Sanborn map the station was on the other side of the tracks. Nothing showed where you have circled. So what ever it was it had to have been built after 1914.

Unless the station was moved, I had a hard time placing it there .. there aren't a lot of period pictures of the area .. the Sanborn map is about it .. the whole railroad corridor looks to be about 200' wide, and if you use google to measure  -- its hard to place ...

also, if you look at the google street view, crossing the tracks at main street -- there is a big blob of concrete -- where the old station might have been ..

[CRL]

I’ve attached a screen print of the Sanborn Map I’d Duncan, AZ circa 1914.

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Assuming the main line is in the same location, the blob of concrete matches the location of the station shown on the map in 1914. The newer station foundation is on the opposite side of the mainline approximately to the right of where the street side siding starts on the map, which seems odd unless the siding was removed or relocated. There’s also an old team track platform remains opposite the newer station foundation, so lots of questions because a lot of changes have been made over the last 100+ years.

[Doug G.]

Could those vertical concrete members have been supports for that tank or silo shown in John's "Interstate Farmers" picture he posted?

Doug

[CRL]

Here’s another google earth roadside view from a different angle. I think it’s just a heavy duty pier & beam foundation to support the old station... maybe an elevated freight platform area.

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[John]

Check this ..

http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/209622/Duncan+1927/Duncan+1927/Arizona/

http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/209601/Duncan+1914/Duncan+1914/Arizona/

That building was put in place sometime between 1914 and 1927

Also, the Interstate Milling was a trackside industry .. but not sure where it is/was .. here are two pictures that show the building next to the tracks ..

[CRL]

John -

Thanks a bunch for these maps and the 2 photos. It looks to me like Interstate Milling was on the town side of the tracks. I took another look ay google earth and there appears to be an old concrete foundation behind The Ranch House restaurant which is further southeast along the tracks. See screen shot below.

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The original structure in question is labeled Genl N Ho, I think... it’s hard to read, but probably indicates the occupancy and construction for fire rating purposes. It does not appear to have been built as a station. There’s also some railroad section hand housing shown catty corner from the labeled station on the opposite side of the track, along with a lumber yard with it’s own siding. So several “industries” serviced by rail.

[John]

This has been fun -- and occupied some time while being forced to watch Hallmark movies

Without visiting the town, I'm not sure there is more to find .. but I do agree with you that the mill could have been by the spot you pointed out.. it does look like the likely spot, given that the overview picture was taken from a hill on the west side of the town .. and I couldn't pick out Main Street .. which was there in 1917 ...