Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Depot (Madison, South Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madison
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | |||||||||||
Looking northwest towards a sign between the tracks in front of the former Madison Milwaukee Road station.
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| Location | 315 South Egan Avenue, Madison, South Dakota 57042 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1881 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 1953 | ||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1906 | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Depot
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 Location in South Dakota
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| Location | 315 S. Egan Ave Madison, South Dakota |
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| Built | 1906 | ||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 89001719 | ||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 1989 | ||||||||||
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Depot in Madison, South Dakota, was once a busy train station. It was built in 1906 by a company called the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, also known as The Milwaukee Road. This important building is located at the south end of Madison's main business area.
This station is special because it's made of brick. Most smaller train stations in the countryside were built from wood. The Madison Depot was designed to be strong and lasting.
Contents
History of the Madison Train Station
The Milwaukee Road train company first came to Madison in 1881. This was an exciting time for the town. Trains helped Madison grow by bringing people and goods.
Building the New Depot
In 1906, the railroad built this new, bigger station. It was much more than just a place to catch a train. The depot had several important rooms:
- A waiting room for men.
- A separate waiting room for women.
- A lunch room, sometimes called a "beanery," where people could eat.
- An office for the station agent, who managed the trains and tickets.
- A large room for freight, which means goods and packages.
Changes Over Time
The Madison Depot served as a passenger station for many years. People used it to travel until 1953. Even after passenger trains stopped, the railroad still used the building. It became offices and a place to handle freight.
In 1979, The Milwaukee Road company faced financial trouble. They closed the depot. Later, another big train company, the BNSF Railway, bought the property. BNSF used the depot for freight and storage until 1981. Then, they closed the depot for good.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1989, local citizens in Madison decided to save the old train station. They bought the building to protect its history. They then gave it to the local Chamber of Commerce. Today, the Chamber of Commerce uses the old depot as its main office.
Why the Depot is Important
The Madison Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a very important building. It earned this honor for two main reasons:
- Its Architecture: The building's design and brick construction are unique for a station of its size.
- Its Role in Madison's Growth: The depot played a big part in how Madison developed. It connected the town to the rest of the country. This helped businesses and people thrive.
