Michigan Central Railroad Standish Depot

Michigan Central Railroad Standish Depot
Location 107 N. Main St., Standish, Michigan
Coordinates 43°59′0″N 83°57′37″W / 43.98333°N 83.96028°W / 43.98333; -83.96028Coordinates: 43°59′0″N 83°57′37″W / 43.98333°N 83.96028°W / 43.98333; -83.96028
Area less than one acre
Built by Adams & Rogers
Architect Spier & Rohns
Architectural style Richardsonian Romanesque
NRHP Reference # 91000215[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP February 28, 1991
Designated MSHS August 27, 1977[2]

The Michigan Central Railroad Standish Depot is a railroad depot located at 107 North Main Street in Standish, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1977[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[1]

History

In 1870, the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad constructed a line through this section of Arenac County to connect Bay City with Mackinaw City.[3] The next year, the Michigan Central Railroad leased the line to begin passenger service.[2] The city of Standish was developed on this railroad line. The first depot, located south of the current structure, was built in 1871 of wood.[4] By 1887, the depot was badly deteriorated, and Michigan Central promised to replace it[3] as part of their push to upgrade depots throughout the state.[4] They hired the Detroit architectural firm of Spier & Rohns to design this depot.[2] Adams and Rogers of Detroit constructed the depot,[2] using stones provided by local farmers.[3] Construction began in May 1889 and the depot was completed in October 1889.[4]

The area around the depot was made into a park, with a bandstand and weekly concerts.[5] However, by the 1920s, both the park and the depot itself were being used less and less as passenger traffic fell off.[5] In 1955, the last passenger train stopped in Standish.[5] The depot was used for freight until 1965 or 66, and then shuttered.[3] In 1988, it was renovated and converted into office space.[6] It is currently used as a welcome center along US 23.[7]

Description

The Michigan Central Railroad depot is a single story Richardsonian Romanesque structure constructed from fieldstone on a fieldstone foundation.[2] Stone slabs are used for the window sills and lintels. The steep roof has a gable at one end and a hip roof at the other. The front facade has a central entrance reached from a broad porch, flanked by building extensions of the freight room and waiting room.[2]

The entrance opens into the former waiting room, which takes up the north 2/3 of the structure.[6] The former freight room occupies the south section of the building, with a small ticket office taking up one section of the waiting area. The current configuration maintains the historical floor plan, with the addition of a small bathroom in the former freight room. The interior ceilings are 12 feet (3.7 m) high, finished with toungue-and-groove. Similar tongue-and-groove birch wood finished the lower half of the walls, above which is plaster.[6]

On the north end of the depot property sits train cars that were donated to portray what it was like in the late 1800s and the transportation system. The sidewalks consist of blocks with names carved in them, those of which who have had an impact. The train depot is now being used for town events such as concerts, markets, car shows, gatherings, and Depot Days which occurs every October. All of these events add more depth to Standish, MI, and brings more tourists in. This contributes to the town's wealth.

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Michigan Central Railroad Standish Depot". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Founding of the former M.C. Standish Train Depot". Standish Historical Depot and Welcome Center. 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "History of the Standish Depot". Michigan Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "A Brief History of the Standish Depot". Standish Historical Depot and Welcome Center. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Architecture of the Standish Depot". Standish Historical Depot and Welcome Center. 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Standish Historical Depot and Welcome Center". Standish Historical Depot and Welcome Center. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
Preceding station   New York Central Railroad   Following station
Sterling
toward Mackinaw City
Mackinaw City – Detroit
Pinconning
toward Detroit
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