Maplewood history: hiding in plain sight…the Yale Loop Streetcar Shelter

By
Doug Houser
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1
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The Yale Loop Streetcar Shelter is till useful as a bus stop even though the Yale Loop has been replaced by a parking lot.

Ordinarily I wouldn’t be happy to report that I had been entirely wrong but regarding the Yale Loop streetcar shelter, I was. I reported earlier that we were down to just one, the original Maplewood Loop shelter on Sutton. This is not the case.

Though I’ve walked by the Yale Loop shelter many times in the past, its existence for some reason didn’t stick in my mind. It’s been hiding in plain sight camouflaged a bit by the parking lot that replaced the actual Yale loop.

Now owned by Bi-State, a little the worse for wear and a sort of insensitive restroom addition, it is in salvageable shape. The folks at Bi-State should be encouraged to offer it to the City of Maplewood, should they someday decide they no longer need it. Hopefully the two brick columns are still there on the end that has been converted into restrooms. But if not, they would be fairly simple to reconstruct. One thing we’ll know going into it, the structure needs a foundation.

In just a short period of time, we’ll be able to demonstrate how attractive and useful these structures still are by the example we’ve set with the one on Sutton. Streetcar lovers, historic preservationists or just nostalgia buffs can hope that someday its twin at the Yale Loop will be restored as well.

The Yale Loop Streetcar Shelter is till useful as a bus stop even though the Yale Loop has been replaced by a parking lot.
The Yale Loop Streetcar Shelter is still useful as a bus stop even though the Yale Loop has been replaced by a parking lot.
The eastern end has been fitted with some wind resistant panels.
The eastern end has been fitted with some wind resistant panels.
The western end has an insensitive (unless you're a bus driver) pair of restrooms added.
The western end has an insensitive (unless you’re a bus driver) pair of restrooms added.
This view from the Manchester side makes one think those restrooms could someday be easily removed.
This view from the Manchester side makes one think those restrooms could someday be easily removed.
The Yale Loop shelter boasts the same graceful cornice brackets as the shelter on Sutton. The former People's Bank building can be seen in the background.
The Yale Loop shelter boasts the same graceful cornice brackets as the shelter on Sutton. The former People’s Bank building can be seen in the background.
The People's Bank building is visible in this winter fire photo taken in 1934 or 5.
The People’s Bank building is visible in this winter fire photo taken in 1934 or 5.  The photographer must have been standing very near the Yale Loop shelter when this photo was taken.
This photo of the same event shows the splendid people's State Bank sign that once graced the facade of the building. Take note Route 66 Neon sign Committee. This would truly be a great sign to reconstruct.
This photo of the same event shows the splendid People’s State Bank sign that once graced the facade of the building. Take note Route 66 Neon Sign Committee. This would truly be a great sign to reconstruct.

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Stay on the case of preserving Maplewood history Doug. Hopefully the city will be encouraged from time to time to realize the dollar value of vintage/historic curb appeal and that it translates to “value added” when people shop or decide to bring their business to Maplewood.

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