A heart for history

COEUR d’ALENE — John Swallow’s journey with the Northern Pacific Railway Depot at Third Street and Lakeside Avenue began like many others.

Decades ago, it was a place for food and drink known as the Third Street Cantina and then Las Palmitas.

But the structure became much more to Swallow.

Years after having lunch and dinner there, he bought it, but not to run a restaurant.

“My first major step into historic restoration and renovation at a larger scale was about to begin, something that would change my life and that of my young family forever,” Swallow said. "I have always been drawn to history, but I began to feel attached to this old train station, with its broken windows, failed HVAC, sewer leaks and many additions clinging to it like numerous old growths and the absence of a local champion and owner that cared.”

Swallow cared.

He and his family spent time and money restoring the 1915 brick structure that served the area for passenger and freight transportation in the heydays of railroad transportation, until the late 1950s and early '60s.

The depot building was eventually converted to a brewery distribution warehouse, then into a series of restaurants before being sold as vacant to the Swallow family.

Today, the Northern Pacific Railway Depot stands proudly restored and Wednesday, Swallow and his family were presented with the Heart of History award by the city of Coeur d’Alene and its Historic Preservation Commission.

“It is entirely appropriate and deserving that this historic building’s owners be recognized for their faithful and tireless efforts and for the research that was undertaken by the entire Swallow family,” Mayor Jim Hammond said during the ceremony attended by about 50 people at the Jewett House.  

“The time, energy and resources committed to saving and restoring it to its former character and quality cannot be measured more than by the community’s appreciation and enjoyment that it remains, restored and in use, honoring our rapidly changing past,” Hammond continued. 

Swallow, joined by wife Erin, said he was pleased their efforts were recognized and proud of their work as he accepted a plaque.

He called it “a super cool project.”

“I’m a firm believer that there’s this thread or voice or discussion going on between the past and the present and the future,” he said.

Swallow said that during the renovation, they put in hundreds of hours researching Northern Pacific depots, visiting every depot museum they could find, talking to historians and train buffs and even found a copy of the original plans and specifications for their building.

“Everything in the depot has a story and purpose,” Swallow said. “We feel that history should be understood and put to work, and that we have created a business use for the depot for the next 100 years. Our goal as a family is to keep the depot and adjacent buildings in their current configuration for posterity.”

Swallow said the depot renovation influenced the renovation of the Elks building, the old Montgomery Ward building and other historic preservation projects around town. 

“It has also led our family on a journey that will hopefully continue long after we are gone,” he wrote.

Walter Burns, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, said the Swallows set an example to follow.

“There’s a lot of history downtown and we want to make sure it stays there,” he said.

Hammond said that back in the day, he stopped at the restaurants at Third and Lakeside.

“Thank you, John, for preserving and saving a building that was part of my childhood,” he said.

    Visitors listen to Mayor Jim Hammond during the Heart of History award presentation on Wednesday night at the Jewett House.