Princeton station (Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Great Northern Depot
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The Princeton Depot from the northwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 101 10th Ave S Princeton, Minnesota |
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| Architect | J. C. Patterson; Libby & Nelson |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000757 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
The Princeton station in Princeton, Minnesota, USA, was once a busy place for trains. It served as both a passenger station and a freight depot for the Great Northern Railway. This historic building mixes two cool styles: Queen Anne and Jacobean. It's made from local brick with sandstone decorations. Because of its special history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It's officially known as the Great Northern Depot.
Contents
How the Railway Came to Princeton
The Great Northern Railway didn't always go through Princeton. Its main line ran from Minneapolis to St. Cloud. Another line connected St. Cloud to Duluth through Milaca.
Building the Elk River-Milaca Line
James J. Hill, the head of the Great Northern Railway, challenged local business owners. He said if they could raise $50,000, he would build a new line through Princeton. The community successfully raised the money. So, the new Elk River-Milaca line was planned.
Workers started surveying the route in March 1886. Track-laying began from Elk River on October 24, 1886. The construction went quickly because there weren't many obstacles. Train service on the new line started on November 29, 1886. This new route through Princeton actually made the trip between Minneapolis and Duluth shorter.
Changes to Train Service
At first, many trains used the new line. But in November 1899, the route to Duluth changed. It moved to a line further east, going through Coon Rapids, Cambridge, and Brook Park. This new route was called the Coon Creek Cutoff or the Bee Line.
Because of this change, the Elk River-Milaca line became less important. Fancy passenger cars were replaced with regular coaches in 1908. The US Mail stopped using the route in 1930. Passenger train service ended completely in 1952. Freight trains continued until 1976, when the Elk River-Milaca line was closed down.
Princeton's New Depot Building
The current Princeton depot was built in 1902. It cost $15,594 to build and replaced an older wooden station. The opening ceremony was a big event, with over 500 people attending.
A Grand Building for Princeton
The new depot was huge for its time. It was 215 feet long, 35 feet high, and more than 37 feet wide. This made it the largest building in Princeton. Farmers and loggers used the depot to ship their goods. They sent out farm products and wood. A lot of bricks from a local brickyard also left from this depot.
Saving a Piece of History
The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota recognized the depot's importance. In 2010, they listed it as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Minnesota. Luckily, the building received a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. Thanks to this help, the depot is now being restored to its former glory.
Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum
Today, the old depot is home to the Mille Lacs County Historical Society Depot Museum. You can find old railroad cars and tracks right next to the building.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has several cool train cars. These include a 1963 Milwaukee Road insulated boxcar and an older 1925 Wooden Milwaukee Road boxcar. There's also a 1963 Burlington Northern wide-vision steel caboose. A 1963 Great Northern flat car is used for concerts in the summer.
The museum also features the 1856 "District 1" one-room schoolhouse. This was the very first school in Mille Lacs County. It's a great way to see what school was like long ago.
The Three Sister Stations
The Princeton depot was special because it was one of three "sister" stations. These stations in the Great Northern system had almost the same design. One sister was in Litchfield, Minnesota, about 70 miles southwest of Princeton. The other was far away in Bellingham, Washington, about 1,700 miles to the west.
Princeton's Depot: The Last One Standing
While some building materials and decorations were different, the overall design of the three depots was nearly identical. Sadly, the other two "sisters" are gone now. The Bellingham depot burned down in 1924. Litchfield tore down its depot in 1985. This makes the Princeton Great Northern depot the only one of its kind still standing today.
