Middleton Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middleton
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | |||||||||||
Middleton station in 2019.
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| Location | 1811 Parmenter Street, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Closed | 1960 | ||||||||||
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Middleton Depot, Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad
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 Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | 1811 Parmenter St Middleton, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1895 | ||||||||||
| Architect | J. U. Nettenstrom | ||||||||||
| Architectural style | Late Victorian | ||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 99000520 | ||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1999 | ||||||||||
The Middleton Depot is an old train station in Middleton, Wisconsin. It was built way back in 1895 by a big railroad company called the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, often known as The Milwaukee Road. This historic building is special because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, which means it's an important part of history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Depot's Story
The story of Middleton began in 1841 when the first European settlers arrived. The town really started to grow about fifteen years later, in 1856. That's when the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad built train tracks right through the area.
How Middleton Grew with the Railroad
Because of the new train tracks, a village called Middleton Station was planned around them in 1856. The next year, a general store was built near where Parmenter Street crosses the tracks today. This spot quickly became the main business area of the village. Soon, many buildings like warehouses, grain elevators, hotels, and stores popped up around this busy shipping area. Houses were built around them too, and the town grew quickly.
The First Train Stations
After the railroad arrived, a man named B.C. Slaughter built a warehouse just north of the tracks. This warehouse was used as the very first train station and also as the post office. In 1869, the railroad company built its own official train station. This station served the town until it sadly burned down in 1895.
The Current Depot: Built in 1895
Right after the old station burned down, the railroad company built a brand new one in 1895. This is the same building that you can still see today! It was designed to be strong and useful, just like many other stations built by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad at that time.
Design and Features of the Depot
The Middleton Depot has a common design for train stations from its time. It's a rectangular building made of wood, with just one story. It has a special kind of roof called a hip roof, which slopes down on all four sides. The roof also has wide parts that hang over the edges, called eaves. These eaves are held up by strong wooden supports called knee braces.
Inside the Old Station
When it was first built, the depot was about 24 feet wide and 60 feet long. Inside, it had three main areas:
- A waiting room for passengers.
- A freight room for storing goods and packages.
- An office for the station agent, who managed the trains and tickets.
After 1919, the freight room was made even bigger, adding another twenty-four feet to its length. This helped the station handle more goods being shipped by train.
The Depot's Changing Uses
The Middleton Depot was a busy place for many years. It served passenger trains, meaning people could catch a ride from this station, until 1960. After that, it was still used to handle freight (goods and packages) until 1975.
From Train Station to Community Hub
Eventually, the depot was sold to the City of Middleton. Today, it has a new purpose! The city uses the old train station as a senior citizen's center. This means it's a place where older adults in the community can gather, socialize, and take part in activities.
A Historic Landmark
In 1999, the Middleton Depot was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a big honor! It was recognized for its interesting architecture, which shows how buildings were designed back in the late 1800s. It was also honored because it played a very important part in the growth of railroads in Middleton and throughout Wisconsin. It reminds us of a time when trains were key to travel and trade.
