The Pride of the Central Line Project Print E-mail


COMING IN 2008
THE PRIDE OF THE CENTRAL LINE

Weaver Hotel
The Weaver Hotel
Travelers on the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad in Kansas found a landmark stop in Waterville. For decades, Waterville was the travel, tourism and social hub of this region and of the Central Branch west of Atchison. Built in 1905, the Weaver Hotel sits directly across the street from the railroad tracks. Passengers waited for their train in the front parlor of the hotel, found lodging upstairs, ate in the dining room, and stepped across the street for performances in the Opera House. Railroad crews also
stayed at the Weaver; first the workers building the railroad further west, and then the regular train crews.

Original Railroad Depot
Original Railroad Depot
In the early years, drummers (traveling salesmen) arrived on the train and set up merchandise displays at the Weaver Hotel. Performers for the opera house also arrived on the train and stayed at the Weaver Hotel. The impressive Weaver Building and “cosmopolitan” establishment was known as the “Pride of the Central Line”. The Weaver Hotel is a land mark of railroad history-symbol of the partnership between local commerce and the transportation industry. It came into being because of the railroad and will live again as railroad history is preserved in Waterville.

It is our vision that the Weaver hotel and Visitor Center will provide a tangible connection to the history of rail travel in north central Kansas and will continue the Weaver’s rich tradition as the central hub for travelers in our area . Our vision is to bring rail history and early tourism back to life with the combination of the Weaver Hotel and Visitor Center, the depot and caboose museum, the abandoned tracks and excursion train, and the Waterville Opera House all within a half-block area.

Central Line Caboose
Central Line Caboose
Several years ago a group was formed to attempt to save the Weaver Hotel. This group, The "Waterville Preservation Society”, pooled their finances and purchased this grand old building. They applied for and received a grant to restore the outside of the structure. When this project was completed they applied and received a grant to restore the inside of the building. The Weaver Hotel is now in it’s final reconstruction phase with a completion date in early 2008. The Society continues to canvass for contributions and hold fund raisers to accumulate the matching funds and start- up costs required to make this project a success.

Wouldn’t you like to be part of Waterville’s history? For a small contribution you can add your name to the list to be place in the Time Capsule that will be sealed in the Weaver Hotel.

Send $5.00 to:

The Waterville Preservation society
P.O. Box 173
Waterville, Kansas 66548

If you would like a copy of this list send a self addressed, stamped envelope.

Historic sites in or near Waterville :

  • Alcove spring- National Historic Site on Oregon Trail.
  • Waterville Victorian Homes.
  • Lake Idlewild - Built by Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.
  • Restored Train Depot and Caboose Museum.
  • Historic Central Branch tracks.
  • Weaver Hotel.
  • Historic Waterville Opera House.

     
 
[ Back ]