| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office.
The building was moved south of its original location at 109 E. 1st St. in 1999 to make way for a planned boulevard. This single-story early twentieth century rusticated stone-masonry Craftsman passenger and freight depot is located perpendicular to Central Avenue and just south of the Wisconsin Central Railroad tracks. The tracks run East to west across the north end of the central business district and commercial historic district. The large hipped roof has wide open eaves and is supported by large plain wooden brackets. The main facade includes a polygonal bay window, probably used by the station master to sell tickets and to be able to see trains come and go. The building is currently abandoned and most of the windows have been boarded over.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This property is a contributing member of the Marshfield Central Avenue Historic District under criterion C of the National Register of Historic Places. It is representative of the Architecture Theme of the Wisconsin Cultural Resource Management Plan as an example of Commercial Vernacular architecture with Italianate details.
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
On July 4, 1872, the first train reached Marshfield. It was a segment of the Wisconsin Central bound from Stevens Point northwest to Lake Superior. Apparently, the tracks into Marshfield had been laid in September of 1871. The first settlers were drawn to the are by the attraction of establishing services for the new railroad. Louis Rivers and his brother Frank constructed a one-and-a-half story log building which served as a residence, hotel, tavern, and store. No longer extant, it was located at the present northeast corner of North Chestnut Ave. and West Depot St.
The Wisconsin Central built the first depot nearby, on Chestnut Ave. between Depot and First streets (not extant, nothing on site). It was one of the first buildings to be burned in the June 27, 1887 fire. The depot which replaced it was described as follows in a report of August 26, 1887:
"The new Wisconsin Central depot, 20 x 125, with sixteen feet studding, is located between Central Avenue and Maple Street on the south side. The building will be divided as follows: The freight room 20 x 36 on the east end of the building, the baggage room 12 x 12, ladies waiting room 18 x 20, office 12 x 20 and gents waiting room 20 x 20, will occupy balance of the building. The building will be finished in good shape and walls are being built to both Central Avenue and Maple Street."
A third Wisconsin Central depot (ca. 13 North Central, WO 11/20) was rebuilt by 1910 after the second one burned in 1907.
Although the Wisconsin Central (WC) was the first train to service Marshfield, and is the only remaining line today, many other railroads contributed to Marshfield's reputation as "Hub City."
Lines which apparently used the same facilities as the Wisconsin Central were the Marshfield and Texas Railroad, a logging road built cooperatively between the Upham Manufacturing Company and the Wisconsin Central; a Mannville and Spencer spur; and the Unity & NorthWestern. The latter two also being Upham influenced lines.
A logging line named the Marshfield & Southern railroad was built in 1889. The Wisconsin Central Railroad acquired the M&S track when it was abandoned. The Wisconsin Central used it to serve industries in Marshfield. A freight depot on the east side of Maple Ave., between First and Depot streets served this line (not surveyed).
Another line originally known as the Port Edwards, Centralia & Northern Railroad also ended up as Wisconsin Central property after it became the Marshfield & Southeastern in 1896. The WC bought it in 1901.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This property is a contributing member of the Marshfield Central Avenue Historic District under criteria A of the National Register of Historic Places. It is representative of the Transportation Theme of the Wisconsin Cultural Resource Management Plan as an example of a depot of the Later Rail Lines era. Passenger service ceased on 11/19/1954. |
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| Bibliographic References: | (A) Sanborn Insurance Maps: Marshfield, Wisconsin - 1884, 1887, 1891, 1898, 1904, 1912, 1925, 1946.
(B) Marshfield City Directories.
(C) Marshfield, Wisconsin, Highights of History, 1872-1972, Marshfield, Wisconsin, 1972.
(D) Marshfield News-Herald, 6 June 1972; 11/15/1994.
(E) History of Northern Wisconsin. An Account of its Settlement, Growth, Development, and Resources, an Extensive Sketch of its Counties, Cities, Towns and Villages. Chicago: The Western Historical Company, 1881; repr., Iron Mountain, Michigan: The Ralph W. Secord Press, 1988.
(F) Winkler, George. "Marshfield on the Old Wisconsin Central" The SOO (article from vertical files at the Marshfield Public Library), 36.
(G) Marshfield Times, 26 August 1887.
(H) Behrens, Paul L. "The Marshfield Branch - Part II" North Western Lines, Official Publication of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Fall 1985): 9.
Neillsville Clark County Press 5/14/1997.
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune 5/10/1997.
Marshfield News Herald 7/21/1997.
Marshfield News Herald 7/2/1997.
Marshfield News Herald 6/23/1997.
Take a Walk on Main Street: Historic Walking Tours in Wisconsin's Main Street Communities, Wisconsin Main Street Program, 1998.
Marshfield News Herald 8/14/1998.
Marshfield Walking Tour Brochure, 2000.
"Central Avenue, Marshfield Historic District Walking tour," Marshfield Historic Preservation Committee, ca. 2019 |
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