CANOGA PARK : Society Seeks to Restore Train Depot

Even the most ardent supporters of the old Canoga Park railroad station concede its appearance leaves something to be desired.

Built in 1912, the station’s tile exterior has long since been covered with plywood planks which, in turn, have been scrawled with graffiti. Workers in the adjacent used-car lot say they are afraid to go inside because transients dwell there.

But the Canoga Park Historical Society is undaunted. The group is trying to raise nearly $1 million to purchase the station from Southern Pacific Transportation Co. and restore it for use as a transportation museum and park.

“The whole corner looks terrible,” said Bill Brady, historical society member. “But we want to put Canoga Park back on the map again. . . . We see this as part of Canoga Park’s rejuvenation.”

The society has applied for a $542,000 grant from federal and local governments through the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and has raised $6,000 from private donors. A local fund-raising effort will begin with Canoga Park’s Memorial Day Parade on May 31. Historical society members are working on a float modeled after the station, which will be mounted on the back of a Model A pickup to announce the Save Our Station campaign.

Southern Pacific real estate sales manager Tim Sharman said the railroad is willing to sell the station and the 1 1/2 acres around it to the historical society, but added the asking price, $1.5 million, is probably beyond the group’s means.

The station, located at the northeast corner of Sherman Way and Canoga Avenue, is listed in the city’s register of historic landmarks. It was used as a passenger depot until about 1920, Brady said. After that, it was leased as a shop, and was a hardware store until three years ago, he said.