For the small railroad community the 1990s was a transformative decade, but not in a good way. May be Wendel had developed an inferiority complex because it had so many prior names—Upper ot Springs, then Hot Springs Station, Smithon, Purser among a few a few and finally in 1915 Wendel.

Like many communities it experienced its peaks and valleys. Unfortunately, by the 1990s, the valleys got so deep, that the writing of its demise was just a matter of time. The first blow occurred on December 3, 1993, that last day the Wendel Post Office ceased to exist. To be quite honest, I was amazed it was not closed earlier. This was due because it was housed in a dilapidated old building, not safe for the last Postmistress Florence Brandon or the public.

It was not much longer Wendel received its fatal blow. After numerous hearings the Union Pacific Railroad was granted permission  to abandon an 85-mile segment of railroad between Wendel and Likely.

In December 1996, the Union Pacific began demolition of many of its buildings in Wendel. One of which was the Mile Post Inn, a twenty four a day cafe that provided meals and housing for railroad employees—but the restaurant was open to the public. Personally, I enjoyed many meals, stopped there for breakfast on my way to explore to explore then desert, and stopping back for dinner on the return.

Tim