Thief River Falls station is a historic train station in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The station was built in 1913 to replace an earlier station and saw passenger traffic until 1967. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Depot and now serves as the Thief River Falls city hall.
The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad was not the first railroad to serve Thief River Falls. The St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway originally built a line to St. Hilaire, Minnesota, seven miles south of Thief River Falls, in 1883. Since it was inconvenient to haul freight to St. Hilaire for shipping, Thief River Falls officials decided to give the Great Northern Railway (the successor to the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba) a $750 incentive to extend the tracks north to Thief River Falls. This extension was completed in October 1892.[2]
In 1888, the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad was formed when Canadian Pacific helped to finance a merger between three smaller railroads. The new railroad, commonly known as the Soo Line, began construction of a line from Minneapolis to Winnipeg. This route went through territory traditionally served by the Great Northern, which upset James J. Hill, GN's owner. The Soo Line reached Thief River Falls in 1904 and made it a division point, with buildings including a roundhouse, mechanic shop, derrick house, several warehouses, and a passenger depot. Other commercial development in the city followed the railroad's expansion, and Soo Line traffic steadily increased. By 1913, the Soo Line's traffic dwarfed the traffic shipped by the Great Northern, and the company decided to build a large, impressive depot as a sort of triumph over the GN.[2]
The architects, William Kenyon and Maurice Maine, designed the building in the American Craftsman style. The structure measures 140 feet (43 m) by 50 feet (15 m) and is built of brick in a Flemish bond pattern. It has a cross-gambrel roof with shallow parapets and limestonecopings. A limestone panel reading "Thief River Falls" stands above the entrance.[2]
At its peak, 13 passenger trains arrived and departed each day. The building was in use as a passenger station until March 24, 1967, when the Soo Line discontinued the Winnipeger passenger train.[3] Local residents formed an organization to preserve the old depot, and in 1994–1995 the City of Thief River Falls renovated and remodeled the building to serve as the city hall. The remodeling preserved important interior features such as the terrazzo floors and the wooden trim and doors in the passenger waiting area. Soo Line 1024, a 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive and the only preserved steam locomotive from the Monon Railroad, is on display outside the depot.[4]
^"Soo Line to End All Passenger Service". Star Tribune. March 17, 1967. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
^"Attractions and Entertainment". Thief River Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau. 2007. Retrieved 2009-09-07. [dead link]
April 17, 2024
thief, river, falls, station, historic, train, station, thief, river, falls, minnesota, station, built, 1913, replace, earlier, station, passenger, traffic, until, 1967, listed, national, register, historic, places, 1995, minneapolis, paul, sault, marie, railr. Thief River Falls station is a historic train station in Thief River Falls Minnesota The station was built in 1913 to replace an earlier station and saw passenger traffic until 1967 It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie Railroad Depot and now serves as the Thief River Falls city hall Thief River FallsFormer Soo Line passenger rail stationThief River Falls station in August 2006 General informationLocation405 Third Street East Thief River Falls Minnesota 56701HistoryOpened1904ClosedMarch 24 1967Rebuilt1913ServicesPreceding station Soo Line Following stationNewfoldentoward Winnipeg Winnipeg Glenwood Hazeltoward GlenwoodRosewoodtoward Kenmare Kenmare Thief River Falls TerminusMinneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie DepotU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of MinnesotaShow map of the United StatesInteractive map showing the location for Thief River Falls City HallLocationJct of Third St and Atlantic Ave Thief River Falls MinnesotaCoordinates48 7 10 N 96 10 33 W 48 11944 N 96 17583 W 48 11944 96 17583Arealess than one acreBuilt1913ArchitectKenyon William Maine Maurice et al Architectural styleBungalow CraftsmanNRHP reference No 95000852 1 Added to NRHPJuly 14 1995History editThe Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie Railroad was not the first railroad to serve Thief River Falls The St Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway originally built a line to St Hilaire Minnesota seven miles south of Thief River Falls in 1883 Since it was inconvenient to haul freight to St Hilaire for shipping Thief River Falls officials decided to give the Great Northern Railway the successor to the St Paul Minneapolis and Manitoba a 750 incentive to extend the tracks north to Thief River Falls This extension was completed in October 1892 2 In 1888 the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie Railroad was formed when Canadian Pacific helped to finance a merger between three smaller railroads The new railroad commonly known as the Soo Line began construction of a line from Minneapolis to Winnipeg This route went through territory traditionally served by the Great Northern which upset James J Hill GN s owner The Soo Line reached Thief River Falls in 1904 and made it a division point with buildings including a roundhouse mechanic shop derrick house several warehouses and a passenger depot Other commercial development in the city followed the railroad s expansion and Soo Line traffic steadily increased By 1913 the Soo Line s traffic dwarfed the traffic shipped by the Great Northern and the company decided to build a large impressive depot as a sort of triumph over the GN 2 The architects William Kenyon and Maurice Maine designed the building in the American Craftsman style The structure measures 140 feet 43 m by 50 feet 15 m and is built of brick in a Flemish bond pattern It has a cross gambrel roof with shallow parapets and limestone copings A limestone panel reading Thief River Falls stands above the entrance 2 At its peak 13 passenger trains arrived and departed each day The building was in use as a passenger station until March 24 1967 when the Soo Line discontinued the Winnipeger passenger train 3 Local residents formed an organization to preserve the old depot and in 1994 1995 the City of Thief River Falls renovated and remodeled the building to serve as the city hall The remodeling preserved important interior features such as the terrazzo floors and the wooden trim and doors in the passenger waiting area Soo Line 1024 a 2 8 2 Mikado steam locomotive and the only preserved steam locomotive from the Monon Railroad is on display outside the depot 4 References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b c Gardner Denis P 2004 Minnesota Treasures Stories Behind the State s Historic Places St Paul Minnesota Minnesota Historical Society pp 54 57 ISBN 0 87351 471 8 Soo Line to End All Passenger Service Star Tribune March 17 1967 Retrieved October 14 2022 Attractions and Entertainment Thief River Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau 2007 Retrieved 2009 09 07 dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thief River Falls station amp oldid 1217026514, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
