Former Orem Railroad Depot and Packing Sheds

Address: 400 South Orem Boulevard
Walter C. Orem was the man after whom the town of Orem was named. He was the president of the Salt Lake and Utah Electric Interurban Railroad which started to construct a line from Salt Lake City to Payson in 1914.

Local fruit growers were searching for a name for the area which they could print on their fruit baskets labels. Since Mr. Orem would be building his railroad through the local area, it was decided that it would be advantageous to name the community after him. Mr. Orem was so impressed with that action, he bought a 40-acre town site at 800 North State Street.

In 1919 when the town was incorporated, the name of Orem was officially chosen to designate the community. The valuation of the railroad property in Orem contributed greatly to the ability of the town to repay its indebtedness on the $110,000 in bonds issued to finance construction of the town's first water system.

Constructed across the Orem bench were four Orem train stations, at which passengers could board trains and locally grown produce and fruit could be loaded. The Orem station was located at 700 North Orem Boulevard; the Snow station at 400 South Orem Boulevard; the Lincoln station at 800 South Orem Boulevard; and Curtis Station at 1200 South Orem Boulevard.

At the Snow station there were also constructed produce packing sheds from which many shipments of fruits and other freight were sent to destinations all over the country.

During the 1930's, as automobile traffic increased, the use of the Orem line declined. However, it continued on a limited basis until 1951. Later, the railroad right-of-way was acquired by the City of Orem to construct the 2-1/5 mile Orem Boulevard.

(Orem Historic Homes and Sites of Interest.  Orem, UT: Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, 2009.) Used with permission.