My first reaction was no, we shouldn't.  But then I realized that the alternative is likely to be nothing at all, because the depot sits on railroad right of way.  Nothing can be built without the permission of the Union Pacific, and they aren't going to grant that due to the liability issues it generates.  They would prefer a wide-open right-of-way.

So building something more practical just isn't an option.  Replace it with something that looks like the depot - be sure to incorporate the molten clock.

My question is this..........Where will they get the million+ dollars to rebuild? The paper this week is already claiming that the city budget for next year is going to be tight with no summer help and no new hires, but hopefully no layoffs. While I think the depot was a nice little historic addition to the town now that it sadly has been destroyed I think there are other things that are MORE important that any money spared should be used for..like the hospital or rebuilding the senior center!! If we can come up with a million + dollars to rebuild a depot to be used as office space why can't we come up with that much money to help out with the hospital or the senior center. A hospital or work done on the senior center will benefit way more people than a "model" depot/office building!

Good points....................I wonder how much it was insured for.

According to Greg Garrett the property was insured.  I guess we'll find out for how much at tonight's city council meeting.  Progresso has a good point about the location of the building and about the only thing that can be done is to rebuild the depot on that spot.  I think rebuilding and using the space as a museum and office space as was finally figured out before will be the proper thing to do.  Salvador Dali clock and all.  I hope they don't fix the clock.  That is a souvenir of the fire.

History can't be rebuilt, but it can be recreated. Definitely rebuild it - just like they did in 1904...and I think the "Dali" clock should be incorporated into the museum. 

I have very mixed feelings about rebuilding the depot.   When your old and beloved pet dog dies and people want to thrust a puppy in your arms to take it's place, does that really make you feel better?    No re-building can ever take the place of the old Depot with it's 100+ year history in the town of Tehachapi.    Sure we can build a replica... but will that make us feel better?

Building a replica is not about making us feel better, it's about preserving the history of the town.  Tehachapi was and IS a railroad town and the depot was going to be a place for all to view that history.  Some may not like building a 'replica', but to brush aside the history and the whole reason for the existence of the town in the first place is shutting the door on history.

 GregL.. you are right on.   As I said, I have mixed feelings about re-building and am not against it at all... it just won't make me feel better about the loss of the old Depot.   Maybe it's too soon... some of us need time to grieve the old before we can embrace the new.

PD there are several buildings and business that line the same side of the street as the depot.............so If the RR has the right away then why is there other business lining that side of the street.

I've been scanning trying to find out more info on the fire.....do they know or have any guesses on how it started?

I noticed at first the paper said it was two juveniles and now it's saying two men. Did they ever make an arrest?

I noticed that too, countygirl... at first it said 'youths' and now it's been changed to 'men'.   The story is slowly unraveling as they investigate.. I'm almost glad it wasn't minors that were to blame because most likely nothing would have been done to them except a slap on the wrist and maybe a hefty bill for their parents to pay.   If they were adults, perhaps there will be just punishment for the horrendous thing they did to our city.

On 23 news at 5:00 they reported that a 31 and 38 year olds where suspects. 23 news also said that the cities insurance on the depot was only three hundred thousand dollars.

Does anyone else think that the story of how this fire was caused is starting to smell?  Since when does it take 10 days to file charges for illegal fireworks?  And why are these bottle rocket launchers still unnamed?  And how were 31 and 38 year old men mis-identified as teenagers in the first place?

And through what opening in that slab-sided loading dock did this one-in-a-million shot enter?  The depot's windows were concentrated in the one part that didn't burn, so the fire didn't start there...

Gube, the willingness of the RR to have things built in the right of way has changed over the years and no doubt depends on the the value of the developments and other factors.  A few years ago the then-owner of the VFW building explained that he was on a month-to-month ground lease and theoretically subject to expulsion any month the RR decided.  Laws designed to protect people from the Robber Barons and lawsuit risk probably limit what can be done to existing buildings and leaseholders.