Union Station Centennial Luncheon - The Rescue of an Icon

A dream that had its inception in 1909 will turn 100 years old May 1st. The Union Station, abandoned in 1984 when Amtrak moved its terminal to the Freighthouse Square area, was restored and turned into a Federal court house. The principal leaders in this restoration spoke today at a luncheon meeting at the Murray Family Event Center at the Tacoma Art Museum. They were Jim Merritt (of Merritt Architecture), Norm Dicks (U.S. Representative for Washington State District #6), and Robert Bryan (U.S. District Judge).

Aside from the work done by the Save Our Station organization, Dicks noted that the process came to his attention through a letter to the editor written by Seymour Johnson in the Tacoma News Tribune (TNT) in January of 1985. Seymour suggested that the train station, falling rapidly into disrepair, should be converted into a Federal courthouse. When Elbert Baker II, TNT publisher at the time, forwarded this letter to Dicks with his suggestion that it was worth considering, Dicks took notice. He began to investigate and find the money to make the restoration happen. He said it took the cooperation of all three federal branches, the state and the City of Tacoma, including the consistent aid and attention of then-mayor Karen Vaille, to make it come to fruition.

At the time, the federal judges were comfortably established at the post office on A Street. Bryan, who was appointed in 1986, said he was reluctant to move, but “…if it’s in the community interest, we will do it.” Bryan, Merritt and Dicks (or his representatives), and others met weekly to go over the plans for restoration and courthouse relocation. Bryan said there was often “blood on the floor” after these meetings but ”no one who lost their temper couldn’t find it again by the next meeting.” The continued creativity, flexibility and determination expressed by Merritt in particular, and the group in general, kept the process moving forward. They started, alphabetically, with Plan “A” and ended with Plan “R.”

The Union Station is regarded by Dicks as a linchpin in the renovation of the Tacoma’s downtown. When its restoration was complete in 1992, The Washington State History Museum, University of Washington Tacoma, the Museum of Glass and the relocation of the Tacoma Art Museum arrived in quick succession.

The celebration will continue with additional comments by Dicks, Washington Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Historian Mike Sullivan and Tacoma Deputy Mayor Lauren Walker on May 1st 1:00 – 2:00Pm in the Union Station Rotunda. It will be followed by panel discussions held in the Washington State History Museum from 2:30 – 3:30. For additional information, visit www.gsa.gov..

_{Photography by Kevin Lidtka}