Tehachapi Depot Fire 06/13/08 3:10 AM - - Gretchensdad's Blog - Tehachapi News

Jun 13, 2008 at 07:06 AM : My god. Thanks for...

My god. Thanks for posting the pic. Anyone know what happened yet? I hope it was just something electrical and not intentional. The depot has been here my whole life and it made me so sick to hear about it this morning when I woke up, especially after all the beautiful work that had been done. I guess that's why I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and couldn't get back to sleep. I knew something was going on! I almost dread driving downtown to see the aftermath. What a horrible loss. :(

Jun 13, 2008 at 07:06 AM : Ohhhhhh, say it...

Ohhhhhh, say it ain't so Joe!!!! Looks fully involved, wow, that hurts. A tragedy. They were so close too, wasn't it supposed to open July 4th weekend? Can't wait to hear the story on this one.

Jun 13, 2008 at 07:06 AM : Oh no. I thought it...

Oh no. I thought it was amazing that a group got together to save this. This is very very sad.

Jun 13, 2008 at 08:06 AM : I'm so sad about...

I'm so sad about this... I was excited about the work they have been doing on the Depot. I was hoping to someday be able to go inside and feel the history of it. UGH....very sad indeed, I'm in tears. What happened???

Jun 13, 2008 at 08:06 AM : WOW the depot is...

WOW the depot is completely gone......man that's to bad.

Jun 13, 2008 at 08:06 AM : Ugh, I just drove by...

Ugh, I just drove by it and it made me cry. There is 1 wall still standing (the east facing wall) but the rest is totally gone. It looks bizarre to be able to see kelcy's without the depot blocking the way. I'm just now remembering I had the camera in the car so I should have taken a photo! I hope they find out what happened. They've got everything blocked off so it looks like they're investigating as I type this.

Jun 13, 2008 at 09:06 AM : What a...

What a horrible tragedy. A terrible, terrible loss. Arson has to be suspected.

Jun 13, 2008 at 09:06 AM : Wow...what news to...

Wow...what news to wake up to this morning. I hope it wasn't intentional either...

Jun 13, 2008 at 09:06 AM : What awful news! Here...

What awful news! Here is the link to the bakersfield story on it http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/471110.html

Jun 13, 2008 at 10:06 AM : What a sad day,I was...

What a sad day,I was so looking forward to seeing the depot restored to her original beauty, and visiting the museum. So sad, such an old building..

Jun 13, 2008 at 10:06 AM : Great photos (must...

Great photos (must have been take before arrival of Fire Dept or Police dept. This is a huge loss for the community.

Jun 13, 2008 at 11:06 AM : MAN, I moved to...

MAN, I moved to Tehachapi in 1976. I grew up with that Depot as a landmark. Man I am sure a lot of life and work went on in that building. I am so sorry and sad that it went up in flames.

Jun 13, 2008 at 11:06 AM : Very Sad....I was...

Very Sad....I was watching the progress of the reconstruction too. I liked the old buildings being restored to the older and original state, downtown was starting to look nice.

Jun 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM : What a huge loss! We...

What a huge loss! We too are very saddened by this!

Jun 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM : This just makes me...

This just makes me sick to my stomach... I grew up with that depot and rode the train from it several times when it was actively open and when passenger trains still stopped in Tehachapi. That dates me, doesn't it? Words cannot convey the contempt I feel for anybody who would commit arson and deliberately start the fire but we have to wait until the investigation is completed and the cause is known before we start speculating.

Such a tragedy for the downtown area... so much work was done, so many dollars were spent, so many people were happily awaiting the Grand Opening of the Depot Museum and the display of railroad memorabilia from the late Bill Stokoe's collection.. all that gone up in flames in a few minutes. Such a terrible, terrible shame.

Jun 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM : Ok, call me...

Ok, call me suspicious, maybe even overly suspicious but this building first built in the 1800's, rebuilt in 1904, makes it 100 years only to burn down during restoration - at 3:00 a.m. on Friday the 13th? A restoration that to me was taking an awfully long time (someone loosing money?). I hope I'm wrong. As a lover of history and historical places, this broke my heart.

Jun 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM : This is a sad day for...

This is a sad day for the City of Tehachapi. I remember playing around, and in, this building in the 1940's. For over 60 years this building has been a part of my life and I was watching with great anticiaption for the completion of the restoration of this building that is so much a central part of our heritage. This hurts deeply and I hope the party/parties responsbile are held accountable.

I wrote about two small fires at the depot a little over two weeks ago and was thoroughly ridiculed by Shane Reed and his group of political friends. See this thread. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/theoneandonlyannonymous/27448

Perhaps Mr. Reed can update us on the status of the investigation of these two small fires? There is not much room for doubt that these three incidents are connected. I wish to thank Mr. Reed for the photographs provided and his explanation of the story that was posted on the Bakersfield Californian web site.

I also wonder, in light of the two previous incidents, was any security posted at the depot until it was completed and occupied? Rebuilding won't be the same as having the original building, but I too wish to see the city pick up and rebuild this wonderful old depot.

Jun 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM : I remember a few weeks...

I remember a few weeks ago there was a blog discussing a few apparent fires at the depot.

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/theoneandonlyannonymous/27448

I have only lived here a short time but it's very sad to see so much history go up in flames like that.

Jun 13, 2008 at 12:06 PM : I think that the most...

I think that the most of the work being done on the depot was being done by city workers. I was looking forward to seeing the inside of the depot when it was done.

I don't think they should rebuild the depot.The whole idea was to restore the rare depot but now that it's gone whats the point? future site of the new city hall??

Jun 13, 2008 at 01:06 PM : This sucks! I woke up...

This sucks! I woke up about 3:00am and heard the sirens. I looked out my back window and thought I saw smoke in the air, but could tell for sure. This is a huge loss. I find it a little ironic that the depot survived so long with a major earthquake and then being ran as a maintenance shop only to burn down while getting restored.

Part of Tehachpi died last night.

Jun 13, 2008 at 01:06 PM : Part of Tehachapi...

Part of Tehachapi died, I agree. I was eager to see this building renovated, but I don't want to see it "rebuilt". The point was to restore a historical building, not create a new one that looks like an old one.

I don't have any good answers for what to do now, but I also remember the hooting done in these pages when someone claimed a waitress had put out a fire there. I really hope these events were not related...

Jun 13, 2008 at 02:06 PM : My husband was telling...

My husband was telling me about this on my to work this morning. When I passed it this morning at 7 am the fire crews were still there. It made me sick to my stomach, just an empty lot now. I love the restoration of these depots, made our downtown, very unique.

Jun 13, 2008 at 03:06 PM : Here's a link to...

Here's a link to a story that has a picture of the depot fully engulfed before it burned to the ground.

http://www.turnto23.com/news/16601100/detail.html?rss=bak&psp=news#

Jun 13, 2008 at 03:06 PM : photo by John Otto

photo by John Otto

Jun 13, 2008 at 03:06 PM : Today is truly a sad...

Today is truly a sad day for everyone in Tehachapi. theoneandonlyanonymous once again you made statements concerning something that no one has all the facts on. ( How does Shane Reed pay into this anyways? No wonder he is trying to recall you) We should not place blame at this time. We should be consoling the ones that put all that work into such a great project. The workers and volunteers put their hearts into this project and I am sure they are hurting more then us. I am sure this project was insured, I am also sure that the insurance company will only pay to rebuild what was insured. I am for rebuilding it.

Jun 13, 2008 at 03:06 PM : If they do rebuild the...

If they do rebuild the depot may I suggest we don't use Aspen Street Architects.

Jun 13, 2008 at 04:06 PM : How do you re build a...

How do you re build a 100 year old building?

Jun 13, 2008 at 04:06 PM : Olivia thats a stupid...

Olivia thats a stupid question.....................

Jun 13, 2008 at 04:06 PM : Olivia, they use 100...

Olivia, they use 100 year old wood.

Jun 13, 2008 at 04:06 PM : You use the...

You use the same design that the rail road used 100 years ago. You use the same workers and volunteers as this time. You put all the museum works inside as was planed. You do a display about today's fire in the new building and sadly we ad the word "replica" to the sign out front. It was insured. The insurance company will only pay for replacing what was insured.

Jun 13, 2008 at 06:06 PM : I hope they do rebuild...

I hope they do rebuild it as a historic site with a the orginal blueprints. I can understand why many don't want to see it rebuilt due to cost, but I think it will draw train buffs. I say this because of when I was in theNavy Stationed n Great Lakes, IL I met a few people that wanted to visit Tehachapi because of the railroad and the Loop. Just go to You tube and ran a search for Tehachapi and you will get tonsof videos of the Loop and the railroad with a few of the windmills.

Jun 14, 2008 at 06:06 AM : Rebuilding the depot...

Rebuilding the depot would be a good move for Tehachapi to make. I would like to see that happen. It would help heal the great loss that we are all feeling.

Jun 14, 2008 at 09:06 AM : ...

The phoenix can rise from the ashes!

It was afterall, rebuilt in 1904 after it burned then - it wasn't the original original. So rebuild, and in another 100 years, it will be "historic" once again.

Jun 14, 2008 at 09:06 AM : Nice point...

Nice point Joty. It makes me ill to drive past and see nothing but burned structure. It sure has taken something away from downtown. Seeing the melted clock, and the sign that says Historic Downtown just leaves me feeling sad that this happened. I've been in Tehachapi 15 years and loved seeing the RR depots restored. A good friend of mine had a huge hand in the restoration of the Apple Shed. My ex husband and friend worked on the restoration of that building.

Jun 15, 2008 at 10:06 AM : I heard that an...

I heard that an inspection by the fire department about a month ago uncovered a pile of rags carelessly clumped together inside the building. The person responsible was warned about spontaneous combustion and, presumably, corrected the problem. This points to neglect rather than a deliberate action. I hope it wasn't set on purpose. It would be a tragic thing to have such a disturbed individual walking around in our town.

I also heard that items of historic signifigance had been stored upstairs in the building and had only just been removed shortly before the fire. Did anyone notice the melted face of the street clock which had been installed at the curb in front of the station? Is it true there was an explosion which broke windows at Kelcie's?

I hope the structure is rebuilt. It won't have the importance it might have had but it will still serve a good purpose.

Jun 15, 2008 at 12:06 PM : I've heard...

I've heard several "rumors", but won't post them. I'll let the inspectors do their job. All I will say is that it's REALLY sad that this loss will probably be found as an accident that could have been prevented had it not been for negligence and the lack of doing things in a safe/proper manner.

Swilli- If one of the rumors I heard was true an explosion would have been inevitable!

Jun 15, 2008 at 12:06 PM : If a fire inspection...

If a fire inspection was conducted by KCFD their should be some sort of inspection form indicating who did the inspection, what violations were noticed, corrective action that needed to take place, and who was given this report.. Also, if their were violations was a follow up fire inspection scheduled?

Jun 15, 2008 at 09:06 PM : posted by dreamkiller...

posted by dreamkiller on Jun 13, 2008 at 03:36 PM

Well DUH? I like expression. I heard one of my grand-kids say that this weekend. I come back here after a nice visit with my family this weekend only to be attacked by this dreamkiller. What kind of name is that anyway? "How does Shane Reed pay into this anyways?" (Great spelling and grammar.) Gee, Reed made a post on this blog. Reed posted as recallbeckham on my blog. Does that connect the dots for you dreamkiller?

I believe I've been very patient with the Reed, Grimes & Hand group. I know they sound ridiculous every time they open their mouths. They keep attacking me and as usual they are misinformed. I am NOT Stan Beckham. This blog is a very good place to discuss how I am associated with Stan. I grew up with Stan. He, Mike Killingsworth, Danny Cronin, myself and a couple of other guys used to play around the old depot. We would play IN the old depot when we could and try not to get caught. It was boarded up at that time, but we could always find a way in. This was back in the 1940's. In high school, when we were old enough to get cars, we would park up on the hill by the depot and watch the other cars cruising on the boulevard while some other guys with cars, and girls, were occupied with other things.

Grimes is an outsider to us. He only went to school here in 5th or 6th grade, if I recollect correctly. I do know that he graduated from North High School in Bakersfield. Hand is an East Coast transplant, Smith has been around awhile, I believe he grew up in Keene, and I don't know about Vernon. What hurts my already tender feelings about the depot burning is hearing Grimes come out and act like he's the Mayor and he's going to lead a charge on rebuilding the old depot and how he had tears in his eyes.

Well, I was welling up too because the depot hasn't been a part of my life for the past 15 or 20 years. The depot has been a part of my life since I was a child. That is 60 plus years my friends. Grimes, Hand and Reed you are an affront to those of us who have been here all our lives. Those who were born here, and whose ancestors were born here.

So if you want to keep calling me Stan Beckham, then go ahead. I am proud to call this man my friend of more than 60 years. He is a man of integrity and has done everything he could do since he went into office to stop the cronyism and nepotism that has been running rampant at City Hall since the Rombouts years. Hell that's what Reed backed Stan in the election to do now Reed is out there saying Stan lied and is spreading all kinds of lies about Stan.

Stan has the integrity to stand by what he believes and not to waffle on those beliefs. I cannot say the same for Reed. Reed kind of reminds me of John Kerry, "I backed Stan for city council before I didn't." Flip-flop. This is a time to rebuild that old depot and the Grimes, Hand, Reed group want to turn my post into a political fight. This shows you how shallow that group is. No true commitment to the citizens of this town. They only always think of themselves first.

This is a time to rebuild that old depot and a time to get us old timers involved. Who knows how many people out there have photos and stories to tell. We were never asked. And, we were never kept abreast of the progress of the restoration. Let's do the job this time and include the older generation that can relate their memories about the old depot and let's document those memories before it's too late. The older generation with Tehachapi roots is not hard to find. Just put the word out in the paper and we will contribute what we can. This is the way our generation is.

And, like I've said, I've been patient with the Grimes, Hand, Reed group but that patience is wearing thin. I would like to take the high road in this upcoming election, but if this group keeps attacking my posts without cause I can assure you there will be some mud going their way. And believe me there is plenty of that mud to sling at this group. They've earned every acre.

Jun 16, 2008 at 12:06 AM : Okay, oneandonly......

Okay, oneandonly... I've a few items especially for you.

First, who are you criticizing someone else's poor grammar and spelling?? Be careful which stones you choose to cast.

Next, what is your malfunction with Greg Garrett? Why in the world would you badmouth him publicly when your source of information isn't credible, meaning that NO ONE can go ask this woman what happened... No one can corroborate your flimsy BS story. We don't even know who she is, where she is, IF she is!

And why are you criticizing Ed Grimes for wanting to rebuild the depot? Is that not what you want?? Or, do you just want your name on it and not his? Maybe Grimes didn't spring from our lovely Tehachapi soil, but who gives a damn (besides you)? I went to school with his kids. If I am not mistaken, he has lived in Tehachapi longer than the 15 or 20 years you allow him (not that anyone but you cares) since Shelly is more than a few years older than me and I graduated in 1990.

If you want to be involved in rebuilding the depot, what are you waiting for??! You -- allegedly a grown man -- are waiting for someone to ASK you?? Jiminy Christmas, pick up the phone or haul your a55 down there and volunteer. Stop whining like a damn kid.

And in my opinion, this was NOT the perfect place to tell the world about you and Stan's relationship. It WAS a discussion about the tragedy of the Railroad Depot burning down! But you did do a pretty decent job of making him sound a little like Jesus... which is exactly why people ask you if you and your reported multiple personalities are him.