Waupaca Railroad Depot Explained

Waupaca

Type:

Former Soo Line passenger rail station

Style:

Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

Address:

525 Oak Street Waupaca, WI 54981

Coordinates:

44.3624°N -89.0779°W

Original:

Wisconsin Central Railway

Opened:

1907

Closed:

January 15, 1965

Rebuilt:

2004

Architectural Style:

Neoclassical

Embedded:

Embed:	yes
Waupaca Railroad Depot
Native Language:	English
Other Name:	Wisconsin Central Depot
Coordinates:	44.3624°N -89.0779°W
Location:	525 Oak Street Waupaca, WI 54981
Nearest City:	Waupaca, Wisconsin
Built:	1907
Built For:	Wisconsin Central Railway^[1]
Original Use:	Railroad depot
Rebuilt:	2004
Restored By:	Waupaca Historical Society Mike Kirk^[2]
Current Use:	Museum
Architecture:	Neoclassical
Governing Body:	Wisconsin Historical Society^[3]
Owner:	Waupaca Historical Society
Designation1 Date:	1998
Designation1 Number:	71864

Waupaca Railroad Depot originally called the Wisconsin Central Depot^[3] a/k/a Soo Line Depot. was built in 1907 for the Wisconsin Central Railway and is located in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The former Soo Line Railroad depot is one of Waupaca's historical landmarks. The building was purchased by the Waupaca Historical Society in 2004, and restoration of the building and site began.^[4] In 1998 the building's site was recognized by the Wisconsin Historical Society.^[3]

History

The depot was built in 1907 by the Wisconsin Central Railway. The Soo Line Railroad leased the depot.^[1] In the early 1900s the depot helped Waupaca, Wisconsin become a center of the potato industry.^[5] ^[4]

Passenger train service to the Waupaca station ended on January 15, 1965, when the Soo Line Laker between Chicago and the Twin Cities or Duluth was discontinued. ^[6]

In 2019 it was reported that a filmmaker was developing a documentary of the restoration process.^[7]

Architectural elements

The building is one story with a stone foundation.^[3] The building was constructed with sandstone. The roof is covered with tiles. The total area of the building is 27x70.^[1] There is a granite exterior with a cantilevered roof overhang.^[4]

External links

Notes and References

Web site: Waupaca Railroad Depot . City of Waupaca . City of Waupaca Community & Economic Development . 3 October 2021 . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003163011/https://www.cityofwaupaca.org/development/historic-preservation/waupaca-railroad-depot/ . live .
News: Cloud . Robert . Kirk receives national award . 3 October 2021 . Waupaca County News . 8 July 2021 . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003180809/https://waupacanow.com/2021/07/06/kirk-receives-national-award/ . live .
Web site: Wisconsin Central Depot . Wisconsin Historical Society . Wisconsin Historical Society . 3 October 2021 . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003175156/https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI71864 . live .
Web site: Railroad Depot . Waupaca Historical Society . Waupaca Historical Society . 3 October 2021 . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003163012/https://www.waupacahistoricalsociety.org/railroad-depot . live .
News: Potato bake, historical program set for Sept. 25 . 3 October 2021 . Waupaca County News . Multi Media Channels LLC. . 25 August 2021 . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003165412/https://waupacanow.com/2021/08/25/waupaca-train-depot-turns-150/ . live .
News: Soo Line 'Laker' Makes Last Run After 50 Years. Sheboygan Press. January 16, 1965. October 14, 2022. October 14, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221014050759/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63739544/the-sheboygan-press/. live.
News: Cloud . Robert . Film on the depot in the works . 3 October 2021 . Vol. 128 . New London Press . 30 . MMC LLC . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003180341/https://wnanews.com/wp-content/2020BNC/2020_WNA_Foundation_Better_Newspaper_Contest/Overall_Newspaper_Awards/02_Best_Front_Page_(F)/Third_Place_New_London_Press_Star_3/Attachment_01.pdf . live .