One of Walter S. “Pinky” Harpool’s last wishes was to donate his distinctive train caboose-turned-office to the city of Denton after his death.

On Tuesday, the City Council fulfilled that wish, accepting the 1973 model Texas and Pacific Railway caboose in honor of former Mayor Euline Brock, as called for in Harpool’s will.

Harpool, a well-known Denton businessman, died Jan. 28 at age 84.

“He’s always been a great admirer of Horace and Euline Brock … and just decided that would be a better way to dispose of it [the caboose] when something happened to him,” said his brother, Tom Harpool. “He wanted to do something nice for the city, too, in his old age.”

The city hasn’t decided how to use the caboose, but options include placing it in a park or using it as part of a proposed downtown train station, officials said. It’s currently parked on an old rail spur near the corner of McKinney Street and Bell Avenue.

“We’re always looking for good ideas on how it could best be used,” said Bob Tickner, Denton’s superintendent of parks, planning and development.

For decades, the Harpools owned and ran Harpool Seed and Fertilizer Co., a McKinney Street fixture.

In the 1980s, Walter Harpool bought the caboose from a railroad company, renovated the inside and used it as an office until his death.

He announced plans to donate it to the city last May, in the final days of Brock’s six-year term as mayor.

“I think it’s been outstanding,” Harpool said of Brock’s tenure in an interview at the time. “That’s the sole reason [for the donation], that someone down the years will remember her.”

Harpool had said he didn’t mind how the city used the caboose, as long as the public could enjoy it.

Euline Brock expressed her gratitude for the donation of the caboose.

“This helps us to remember that Pinky Harpool was thinking about the future and especially about kids who would be interested in seeing a real caboose,” she said. “I think it’ll be a real attraction if it’s somewhere easily accessible in a park. And I’m honored that Pinky thought about making that donation in my name.”

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.