The proposed Union depot building, with the train sheds, was to be 520 feet in length, extending from Sibley street to within 140 feet of Broadway, the depot proper being about 160 feet square. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday, November 9, 1879, Page 4)
At the adjourned meeting of the Union Depot company, yesterday, the plans submitted by M. L. S. Buffington were selected, and Mr. Buffington was chosen as architect, directed to modify his plans in certain respects, for economic reasons, and instructed to get up the working details of his plans as modified. The company’s secretary, Mr. J. D. Estabrook, was authorized to receive bids for material and construction, etc., to be submitted at a meeting to be called as soon as the detailed plans are ready and bids been invited, at which time it is intended to let the contracts and provide for immediate erection of the buildings. One hundred and twenty tons of the steel rails for the depot tracks have been delivered. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday, April 13, 1880, Page 2)
Messrs. Sargent, Hill and Bishop, a majority of the construction committee for the Union Depot company, met yesterday afternoon, passed upon Architect Buffington’s estimates and details for the concrete and stone foundations, and authorized the letting of contracts, the bids for which will probably be invited by advertisement about Monday next. The St. Paul & Manitoba company is to remove its passenger depot to the location, across the tracks, it is to occupy while the union depot is being built, and during next week will take down and remove the stone building heretofore occupied by its officers. If the contract for the foundation is let Monday or Tuesday next the work will be begun without waiting for removal of the stone building, and once begun it will be pushed to completion in as short a time as possible. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Friday, April 30, 1880, Page 2)
The Union Depot committee yesterday awarded the contract for excavation and foundations for the depot building to Michael O’Brien, who will begin work Monday. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Saturday, May 8, 1880, Page 1)
The foundations for the front half of the union depot are finished. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday, June 30, 1880, Page 4)
The Minneapolis parties to whom the contracts were lately awarded for the brick laying and carpenter work of the union depot, having failed to execute the agreements required of them, the contracts have been newly awarded as follows: The brick work to Williams, (A. R.) Brink, (C. R.) Brink & (W. H.) Brink, of Red Wing; the carpenter work to Giles W. Merrill, of St. Paul, and the cut stone work to Herbert Chalker, of St. Paul. These parties have signed their contracts, given the bonds required and begun work. Contrary to statements heretofore made as to the modifications of the original plan of the depot, it will be a handsome building. The exterior is to be of St. Louis pressed brick (red) with Ohio stone (white) trimmings. The backing will be of local brick. The great hail way and arches leading from it will be of Racine colored and glazed brick with Ohio blue stone trimmings. The hall walls will be for about five feet high faced with the glazed or porcelain brick and the height of the wall will be relieved by complementary colors of brick and stone and handsome finish of the arches. The exterior appearance will be creditable to the architect and the company and satisfactory, it is proper to say, to those public spirited citizens who have hoped it would be worthy of the city. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Friday, July 30, 1880, Page 4)
Williams, Brink, Brink & Brink, the contractors for the brick work of the union depot, have now nineteen expert bricklayers employed on the nice work on which they are engaged. They are making good progress, though somewhat delayed by all the foundations not being finished. Eight of their bricklayers were brought from Philadelphia especially for this job, and others from Chicago and St. Louis. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday, August 15, 1880, Page 6)
The Union depot walls are up to near the top of the first story, all sound, but it is plain to be seen the building and yards will not be ready for use before next spring. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday, September 7, 1880, Page 2)
The masons on the union depot are delayed by the slow deliveries of stone from the Ohio quarry. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday, September 26, 1880, Page 8)
Five track platforms, from the end of the new Union depot east, are now being laid. Each one is to be 500 feet long by 18 feet in width, and all will be covered with iron sheds. The work of laying the platforms is under the supervision of J. F. Turner, foreman of the depot construction, which fact is a sufficient guarantee that it will be well and thoroughly done. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday, October 7, 1880, Page 4)
The bad weather has forced a suspension of building operations of the Union depot for the past few days. The carpenters are considerably ahead of the brick layers and will have to wait their motions a little. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday, October 19, 1880, Page 4)
J. F. Turner, of Richmond, Wis., who is foreman of the framing and carpenter work on the Union depot... (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday, October 20, 1880, Page 1)
Mr. J. F. Turner, of this city, superintendent of the union depot building... (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday, November 16, 1880, Page 2)
The first section of the galvanized iron cornice upon the Union depot building was put in place yesterday. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday, December 16, 1880, Page 1)
Mr. (Wm.) Brink may be said to be a builder by blood, inheritance and training, his great grandfather, grandfather, uncles and cousins having followed the business, and his father, a leading contractor in New York, having placed him in charge of important work from the time he was fifteen years old. He was principal of his firm when it had the brick work contract at the union depot, when his late uncle, the Hon. C. R. Brink, was a member of the firm. The firm is now composed of William and Alonzo Brink, brothers, and Wm. B. Williams. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Friday, May 6, 1881, Page 2)
Messrs. Miller & Dipley (new beginners, by the way, in our city) yesterday finished their contract of plastering the Union depot, on which they have spread about 10,000 yards, three coats. The superintendent and architect are thoroughly satisfied with the execution of the contract, and visitors to the building will be likely to observe that it is excellent work, showing that painstaking and competent mechanics had the job. The plaster finish is what is called sand finish, and was adopted partly for protection of the walls from that class of people who write their names wherever they can find a smooth, white surface. This finish is whitened by calcimining. Yesterday the scaff-folding was taken out from the great hall or corridor, giving about the first opportunity to observe its proportions and the first chance for noting the style of finish. The ceiling, finished in squares of plaster, separated by beams and bands of oak in natural color, lacks now only the colored glass through which the light from the skylight is to be let into the hail. That and the ornamental iron railings across the broad aisles of the second story is all that is lacking, except the tile flooring, to complete the first and principle interior view. The present promise is that it will make up as rich and grand interior as the country can show. The laying of the tiling, which will be Vermont marble, will be begun probably week after next. Meantime the window sashes for the exterior are being painted red preparatory to placing them in purple colored window casings. In keeping with the general style of the building is a large fire place and chimney, just completed, in the front room on the river side of the building. The general heating of the building will be by steam, for which pipes have been laid through the building, and it is probable the steam for heating will be taken from Kelly & Co’s new boilers, to be placed in their grocery block, now approaching completion. It is expected the lower floor of the building will be ready for use about July 1st, and that all passenger trains will then run to and from the Union depot yards. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday, May 26, 1881, Page 2)
The contract for the Union depot tower clock, was yesterday awarded (to) Frohne & Church, who represent E. Howard & Co. The selection was evidently judicious, as the Howard clock is recognized by all mechanical experts as the best in the world. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday, June 29, 1881, Page 1)
A good deal of finishing work remains to be done about the Union depot, but the present situation promises that in two weeks at farthest the lower floor will be ready, and it is intended then to begin use of the building. The cathedral glass was being placed yesterday over the grand hall, and the floors of the principal waiting rooms were being finished. The platforms outside the building can be finished in a day or two. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Friday, July 22, 1881, Page 1)
Yesterday a Tribune reporter made a brief visit to St. Paul for the purpose of looking over the very handsome union railway depot, designed by L. S. Buffington, the well-known architect of this city, which is rapidly approaching completion, and which will be opened to the traveling public Monday next. In the architecture Mr. Buffington, as in all his work, has departed from the four dull walls system and succeeded in getting up a building as valuable for its beauty as for its entire and complete practicability. Eighty feet from the thoroughfare at the foot of Sibley street the handsome front rises three stories and at once attracts the passer-by. The foundation is of solid granite three feet above the street grade, and upon this is artistically piled the walls of pressed red brick trimmed with Ohio white stone and black and cream brick, the combination being at once unique and pleasing. The same style of trimming is maintained on all the walls, which are very liberally punctured with large plate glass windows capped by Buffington niches of cathedral glass. The main hall, thirty feet wide, is reached by three openings in the center front - an admirable arrangement to accommodate a crowd. The hall is floored with tile of very fine shape, and leads out to the railway tracks under a mammoth arch glazed with many-colored cathedral glass. In order to gain the most improved and perfect ventilation, the hall height is that of the building, and is covered by a skylight susceptible of being opened when desired. Indeed, the ventilation of the building has been little less than a hobby with Mr. Buffington, and he pronounces it first-class in every particular. Square space-doors and squares of all kinds are studiously avoided, and in their places are arches - arches everywhere and for most every place. On either side of the main hall are two large waiting rooms for ladies and gentlemen, with toilet conveniences attached, and the design seems to be to make an attractive place for travelers, and not merely a dull, ill-ventilated stopping place in which waiting even a few moments becomes wearisome and disagreeable. Even the huge fire places have been beautified and made very attractive. On the main floor are ticket offices, baggage rooms, news stands, postal service and express rooms, and a waiting-room at the track end for hackmen and omnibus drivers - in short, the comfort and protection of all classes of people using the depot has been carefully and systematically attended to. The second story is to be used for kitchen, etc., in connection with the restaurant below - which is to be under control of Col. Allen, of the Merchants. On this floor the depot master and depot company will have their offices, while the train-dispatching offices of the several railroads will be located at the track-end of the floor. The third story will be utilized as apartments for janitors and restaurant help, and for storage. Covered platforms surround the building, and at the track-end gates will be put up with hoisting openings for each railroad track so that strangers will not be misled in seeking to gain certain trains. It is doubtful if a more complete and more systematic depot can be found in the West. No detail, however small and apparently trifling, has been neglected, and harmony in everything prevails to a degree really admirable. Yesterday the depot was receiving the finishing touches inside, and there is no doubt but that it will be opened to the public next Monday. There will be five railway companies using the depot, to wit: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, Northern Pacific, St. Paul & Duluth, and St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba. These roads combined will send out and receive daily (except Sunday) between eighty-five and ninety trains. The cost of the building is very nearly $170,000, including covered platforms. (The Minneapolis Tribune, Saturday, July 30, 1881, Page 7)
The Union Depot company yesterday notified the several railroad companies that the depot will be ready for use Sunday next. From Sunday morning next, accordingly, all passenger trains in and out of St. Paul, will run to and from the Union depot. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday, August 17, 1881, Page 2)
This morning, or rather last evening, inaugurated a new era in the arrival and departure of railroad trains from St. Paul. Ever since the first train of cars arrived and departed from this city there has been more or less inconvenience by both the railroad companies and passengers, in the matter of depot accommodations. The depots have been located at different points, and without exception have been totally inadequate for the accommodation of the great traveling public. Thousands upon thousands of passengers arrive and depart daily from this city, and the formal opening of the Union depot, which will practically take place this morning, will do away with much of the inconvenience experienced for the past few years. The Globe has heretofore given a full description of this new depot, and it is unnecessary to report it at this time. The building is not fully completed, but the work is far enough advanced to admit of its being utilized for the accommodation of the public. The spacious waiting rooms, for men and women, the baggage room, ticket office and restaurant are all in order, and last evening the eastern trains departed from the new depot, and hereafter all passenger trains will arrive and depart from it. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Monday, August 22, 1881, Page 4)
The finishing of the walls and woodwork of the lower story of the Union depot was not quite done yesterday, but the workmen were few and not in the way of the crowds which at times poured through the building. The fine waiting rooms were evidently appreciated by passengers who have experienced the discomforts of the dirty little rooms in the old depots. The baggage room floor was early filled and was left full all day, while great loaded trucks were at the doors all the time. Considering how new the situation was there was little confusion or delay and the hundred or more trains which came and went through the day received and discharged their passengers without any being mistaken as to their train. The work in the upper story is being pushed by a large force of workmen, but considerable remains to be done outside and in, and the establishment will not be complete under a month. The iron roofs over the platforms may not be provided in that time. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday, August 23, 1881, Page 1)
Messrs. Frohne & Church have just received the tower clock for the new Union depot, and will have it in position in a day or two. It is of excellent workmanship, and having a dial five feet in diameter will be seen for a great distance. It will front on Sibley street. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday, October 6, 1881, Page 1)
Superintendent Bronson, at the Union depot, is feeling hopeful that winter storms will not come before he is ready for them. The surfacing of the depot yard is done; the permanent boiler house is to begin supplying steam to-day and the temporary boiler, and occupying a part of the northern switch is at once to be removed; and the snow sheds over the platforms in the train yard will be nearly done to-night. But, though this may do for the season there is more to do next season. Chief of the work already laid out is the building of a fine brick building, 80x300 feet, fronting the train yard on the north side, from Wacouta street to Broadway, with the basement for storage, the first story for the express companies and the second story for immigrant quarters and waiting rooms. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Saturday, November 26, 1881, Page 1)