Morrisville Depot facts for kids

The Morrisville Depot is a historic building in Morrisville, Vermont, located at 10 Depot Street. It used to be a busy train station. Built in 1872, it was important for Vermont's lumber industry. It also had beautiful decorations and was once the main office for the St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County Railroad. Later, it became a restaurant. The Morrisville Depot was recognized for its history in 1982 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

How the Morrisville Depot Started

In the early 1800s, towns in Vermont's Green Mountains, like Morristown, began cutting down trees for lumber. The Central Vermont Railroad started in 1849 to move this lumber. They took it from the mountains to Burlington, which was a big trading city and a port on Lake Champlain.

The railroad chose Waterbury as their main stop because it was a flat area in the mountains. This made Morristown, only about 20 miles away, even more important for lumber. In 1866, a company called Mt. Mansfield Railroad tried to build a line from Waterbury to Morrisville. But this plan didn't work out.

Three years later, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad had a new idea. They planned a railway that would go all the way from Maine to New York. This new line would pass through Morrisville. It would connect the Atlantic coast of New England to Lake Ontario, which was a major hub for trade in the Midwest and Canada. Morrisville could use this line to transport its lumber. The village just had to agree to build and take care of its own station and roads.

[[File:185x Portland & Ogdensburg.jpg|thumb|This map shows the planned Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad (in red). It went through Lamoille County, north of Burlington. To connect with Burlington's economy, a new rail line was suggested between Cambridge and Essex Junction, Vermont, just outside Burlington.

The train tracks reached Morrisville on December 31, 1872. The depot building was also finished that same year. Even though the Portland and Ogdensburg system changed in 1880, the station became very popular. By 1884, it needed more space. A 24-by-55-foot extension was added, which became the Depot Restaurant.

In 1888, the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad rented its central Vermont tracks to the Maine Central Railroad. The Maine Central then rented the line to the Boston and Maine Railroad. In 1900, a poolroom was added to the east side of the Morrisville Depot.

The Maine Central's rental of the Morrisville tracks lasted until 1927. After that, they only renewed their lease as far west as St. Johnsbury. In the early 1930s, fewer people were taking trains. Because of this, the Depot Restaurant closed. The original Portland and Ogdensburg line, now called the St. Johnsbury-Lake Champlain Railroad Company, took over moving goods on the tracks. In 1959, this company moved its main office into the depot. The old train platform was changed into an office space. Even though the tracks were still there, the Morrisville Depot was never used as a train station again.

What Happened More Recently?

In 1973, the state bought the St. Johnsbury-Lake Champlain Railroad Company. Even though some companies still used the tracks for freight, the depot building was changed for good. It stopped being offices and became a restaurant space.

In the 1980s, the Loati family owned the restaurant. They ran "The Station Restaurant," which was a well-known place in town, until 1989. Just five years later, the freight tracks were no longer used. This meant diners couldn't see trains passing by anymore. Around this time, the Morrisville Depot became an Asian restaurant. It later closed because of a fire. In 2005, the Benson family opened their restaurant, "Melben's," in the building.

In the early 2010s, a big project started. The VAST Trail and the government, with help from Senator Bernie Sanders, turned the old railway path into the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. This is a 93-mile-long path for sports and recreation all year round. The project began on July 19, 2013. The Morrisville part of the track was paved for recreation in 2014.

Also in 2014, Kim Kaufman and James Goldsmith bought the Morrisville Depot. They received over $30,000 in tax credits to help fix up the 144-year-old building.

Businesses at the Morrisville Depot Over Time

• The Depot Restaurant (1884-1930)
• An unnamed poolroom (1900-?)
• STJ&LC Railroad Company (1959-1973)
• The Station Restaurant (early 1980s-1989)
• Oriental Station (1990s)
• Melben's (2005-2010)
• 10 Railroad Street (2014-Current)
• Mo Vegas Fill Station (poolroom space only) (2015-Current)

How the Depot Looks and What It's Used For Now

The Morrisville Depot started as a simple rectangle shape. But its fancy decorations made it stand out. Many of these decorations are still there today. The building has a low gable roof with wide eaves. These eaves are held up by special brackets and have triangular flower designs. A decorative border, called a frieze, runs along the front of the building.

Some original decorations are now missing. These include fancy bargeboards, pointed ornaments called finials, and wooden frames around the windows. Over the years, parts of the building have been added, and the inside has been changed many times. Even though some original brick walls are now covered, the main front of the building (facing south) has stayed mostly the same since 1900.

The original building and its platform now hold the entrance and dining room for the 10 Railroad Street restaurant. The addition from 1884 is where the restaurant's bar is located. The old poolroom, added around 1900, is now a special grocery store and a place to fill up growlers (large jugs for drinks). It's called Mo Vegas Fill Station.