Gray Paint and Red Station Trim in the 1880's

From: "Larry Mullaly" lmullaly@jeffnet.org

I recently came upon a interesting analysis of the paint scheme of the original Ashland (Oregon) depot-hotel, erected in 1888. It brings up an interesting topic: the use of a red window trim on these early buildings. The quote below is an excerpt from the application to the National Park Service for inclusion of the building on the National Register of Historic Places and was prepared in 1990 for the (still-) surviving south end of SP's Ashland depot.

"Exterior paint analysis (cratering technique) indicates the original paint of the depot was a deep grey colored paint, with a sand finish on the lower 5' feet, more or less, of the siding. The lower portions of the window and door trim was also sand-painted, in this case with a deep reddish/brick color. Photos indicate a slightly lighter color paint (without sand finish) was used above to the soffits although cratering does not bear this out ... All subsequent paint colors of the Ashland Depot are various shades of the yellow/mustard color body and deep umber trim that is typical of Southern Pacific buildings throughout Oregon. At least six different coats of yellow are present on the Ashland Depot structure."

Larry