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SANTA CLARITA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

DOCENT TRAINING

THE SAUGUS STATION

On June 9 • 1876 Henry Mayo Newhall granted a right-of way across his
rancho San Francisco (later Newhall Land and Farming) to the Southern

Pacific Railroad. Deed in the California State Library
Newhall Station was dedicated by Southern Pacific on September 6 , 1876,

Mr. John Gif·ford being the first station KLaster. Niewhall. was then. lo-
cated direct~ acrosa ( east) San Fernando Rd. from the Saugus Cafe •. ·
Mary Bruen.er-Notes in the Newhall. Library ··.

The welJLs ran dry on Jamuary ].5,l.878- and the ·town.~ which coimsisted of a
bar,,, hoarding_ house,,gemeral. store and the. depot was a.oved 3 mil.es south
to 6th a.1'll.d Railroad Ave:a.ues by February 1_6 ...
A.B. Perkins - Unpublished aLS.
HeJmry Gregory liewhall., then president of Newhall. Land aELd Farmdi.ng(eldest

son of H.M. Nei~hall) sol.d the· station grounds and "!" to S.P. on November
30,1886. Map in the California State Library
The depot was to be call.ed -Saug,ua at the request of. H.G. H·ewhall., as
that was the birthplace of his father in Massachuttes. It is a Narrae;ansut

I:tmdian word meaning a lomig sandy spit of land.
Ruth Newhall.-History of the Newhall Ranch
Saugus Station was built of prefabricated redwood shipped down froa.
a 111torthern Califorma forest on the site of old Newhall. during the
summer of 1887 ,: Al.exander Isaac Fraser, a CcUlladian °b)y birth,.ilillstalled

as the first Station Master.
Jeallfie w. G.uaey ,.Grand daug;lter.
· 01!11 August 20,. I.887 an _ excursion. train from fro• Los Angeles,. through

Saugus,.over to the coast,, th.en up to San.ta Barbara where a parade aiilld
grarud fi'esta was held, ran to celehrat.e tne operuing of the spur li1n1e.
On the return trip, that night.,_lla defective culvert n.ear the Camiulos
Ra:rnch caused the cars>with 150 passe:migers.tC? plung_e doww allll emhalillkment-

luckily with but few casualties."
Harris Newmark-60 Years In Souther1n1 California