Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot – Delmar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delmar
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | ||||||||||||||||
Delmar station in September 2012.
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| Location | 100 Railroad Street, Delmar, Iowa 52037 | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1905 | |||||||||||||||
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot - Delmar
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 Location in Iowa
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| Location | Main Street, between Railroad St and Clinton Ave., Delmar, Iowa | |||||||||||||||
| Area | less than one acre | |||||||||||||||
| Built | 1905 | |||||||||||||||
| MPS | Advent & Development of Railroads in Iowa MPS | |||||||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 97000308 | |||||||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1997 | |||||||||||||||
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot – Delmar is a special old building in Delmar, Iowa. It used to be a busy train station. Today, it's a historic place that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important part of history that should be protected.
Contents
The Delmar Train Station: A Historic Spot
This building was once a key stop for trains. It served the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. This railroad was often called the Milwaukee Road. The station helped connect people and goods across the country.
A Look Back: The Station's Story
The very first train station in Delmar was built in the 1870s. But the building you see today was built a bit later, in 1905. It was made for the Milwaukee Road. This depot is a single-story building made of wood. It had a common design for train stations in small towns.
Inside, there were different areas. One end had waiting rooms for passengers. Interestingly, there were separate waiting rooms: one for men and one for women. This was a unique design for the Midwest back then. At the other end was a large room for freight, which means goods and packages. In the middle of the building was the station agent's office. This is where the person who managed the station worked.
Delmar and the Railroads
The town of Delmar actually exists because of railroads! In the late 1870s, three different railroads met there. That's why the town was first called Delmar Junction. Over time, only the Milwaukee Road continued to operate there. This railroad played a huge part in how the town grew and developed. The Delmar station was on the main train line. This line went all the way from Chicago to Omaha.
What is it Now? The Delmar Depot Museum
The Delmar train station was used for passengers until 1977. After that, it was empty for a while. The City of Delmar eventually bought the building. The last freight train used the station in 1982.
In 1995, people started working to fix up the old building. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Now, this historic station is home to the Delmar Depot Museum. The museum has over 1,500 historical items. These items tell the story of the railroad and the town. You can also see an old train car called a caboose, named "Elizabeth," at the site. There's even a mural on an old wall that remembers the Orphan Train.
