New Glarus station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Glarus
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | |||||||||||
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| Location | 418 Railroad Street, New Glarus, Wisconsin 53574 | ||||||||||
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| Opened | 1887 | ||||||||||
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Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad Depot
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 418 Railroad St. New Glarus, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1887 | ||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 00000359 | ||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | April 6, 2000 | ||||||||||
The Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul Railroad Depot is an old train station in New Glarus, Wisconsin. It was built in 1887. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This means it is an important place worth protecting.
Contents
The New Glarus Train Depot
The New Glarus train depot played a big role in the town's history. It helped connect the small Swiss settlement to the rest of the country. Today, it serves as a visitors center.
Why New Glarus Needed a Train
New Glarus was founded in 1845 by people from Switzerland. Many of them were farmers. They grew crops and made cheese. But it was hard to get their goods to market. The roads were not very good, especially when it rained.
By 1856, railroads reached nearby towns like Brodhead and Monroe. But New Glarus was still about 20 miles away. This made it tough for farmers to sell their products.
In 1880, a company called the Milwaukee Road bought the railroad lines in the area. They built a short track to Albany. This was still 16 miles from New Glarus. The town of New Glarus had 18 cheese factories by 1884. They really needed a train!
New Glarus offered the Milwaukee Road $20,000 to build a track to their town. But the railroad company wanted $40,000.
Building the Railroad Line
In 1886, another railroad company started building a line nearby. This made the Milwaukee Road nervous. So, they finally agreed to extend their line to New Glarus. New Glarus became the very end of this train line.
Construction of the new 16-mile track began in the spring of 1887. It was finished by the end of August. Two trains ran every day. They stopped at Albany, Monticello, and New Glarus. At New Glarus, the Milwaukee Road built more than just the depot. They also built a turntable (to turn engines around), an engine house, and places for livestock.
What the Depot Looked Like
The New Glarus depot was a "combination depot." This means it handled both passengers and freight (goods). It was made of wood and had a popular design for small towns at that time.
The part for passengers had a waiting room and two bathrooms. There was also a room for the train agent, where people bought tickets. Upstairs, there were living quarters for the agent's family. This included a kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. The building cost $8,000 to build.
The End of the Train Era
After the railroad arrived, New Glarus grew a little. But it didn't have a huge boom like some other towns. Economic problems in the 1890s might have slowed things down.
However, the railroad served New Glarus for many years. Over time, more people started using cars. This meant fewer people and goods traveled by train. The Milwaukee Road stopped using the line to New Glarus in 1972.
What's There Now?
Today, the old train depot is still a busy place. It houses the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce office. This is where local businesses work together. It also has the office for the Sugar River State Trail. This trail is a popular path for biking and walking. The building also serves as a visitors center for tourists.
