Colma in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Old Colma Railroad Station
Depot Building
— Circa 1863 —
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009
1. Old Colma Railroad Station Marker
In 1870, Southern Pacific Railroad assumed ownership of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, which had originally been opened as an independent railroad in 1863. The second stop south of San Francisco, in what then was the center of the larger Northern San Mateo County area historically known as Colma was called the Schoolhouse Stop. The name for the station came from the nearby oneroom schoolhouse on San Pedro Road, the most recognizable landmark in the rural landscape at the time. Schoolhouse Stop was one of the twenty-one stops built between San Francisco and San Jose. In 1863-65, Southern Pacific constructed the passenger depot adjacent to the Schoolhouse Stop. The passenger depot was necessary to shelter passengers. The station was where the farmers and teamsters stopped enroute to San Francisco.Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 37° 40.931′ N, 122° 27.368′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Old Colma Railroad Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Mount Olivet Cemetery Office and Streetcar Line (within shouting distance of this marker); Colma Historical Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Colma City Hall (approx. 0.4 miles away); Waterworks and the Pump House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Joe Cavalli – Historical Site (approx. 0.9 miles away); Molloy’s Springs (approx. 0.9 miles away); Cuneo Farm and Produce Market (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colma.
More about this marker. Marker and site are located on the grounds of the Colma Historical Museum at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Also see . . .
1. San Francisco’s City of the Dead: Colma, California. Unusual Places entry. (Submitted on November 15, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. History of the Town of Colma. (Submitted on April 27, 2009.)
3. The Colma History Museum. (Submitted on April 27, 2009.)
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009
2. Old Colma Railroad Station and Marker
Additional commentary.
1. The Stop in Colma
The stop in Colma was at first called the Half Moon Bay Road Stop. This was near Rail Road and Washington Streets. A small depot was built about 1864. On October 12, 1870 the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad was absorbed into the Southern Pacific, controlled by the “Big Four” – Leland Stanford, Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, and Mark Hopkins. The Colma Stop was now called School House Station Stop because the only building near by was the school house. There had been just a platform, loading & unloading freight until then. Passenger service continued with 21 stops between San Francisco and San Jose. The train averaged 700 passengers per day, cost $2.50.
Source: Colma History Museum.
— Submitted April 27, 2009.
Photographed By Karen Hellyer, March 23, 2002
3. Old Colma Railroad Station
Prior to restoration.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009
4. Old Colma Railroad Station
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009
5. Old Colma Railroad Station
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009
6. Old Colma Railroad Station
Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009
7. Old Colma Railroad Station
Photographed By Syd Whittle
8. Colma's Railroad History
Source: Colma History Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,720 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 3. submitted on December 31, 2010, by Karen Hellyer of Berkeley, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 7. submitted on April 28, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 8. submitted on April 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.
