(Spirit Lake)– One of Dickinson county’s most historical sites will receive a special designation during an event this Saturday.
The Daughters of the American Revolution, Ladies of the Lake Chapter of Spirit Lake, will hold a ceremony at 10:00 a.m. during which a historical marker will be placed at the former Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad depot located at the corner of Keokuk Avenue and Highways 9 & 71 in Spirit Lake.
Colleen Lemkuil of the local D-A-R chapter tells KUOO news the depot, built in 1883, contains a lot of history…(click here for comment from Lemkuil.)
A number of guest speakers will be on hand for Saturday’s event at the former depot, which will also include some music. Those attending should bring a chair…(click here for comment from Lemkuil.)
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, or the Milwaukee Road as it would later become known, was extended north from Spencer through the Iowa Great lakes and to Spirit Lake in the late 1800’s. It served scores of tourists who would ride the train from Des Moines To Spencer, then on to the Iowa Great Lakes and Spirit Lake, which had arrivals and departures twice a day.
Passenger service on the line ended in the early 1950’s. The railroad continued to handle freight until the early 1970’s, when the line between Spirit Lake and Milford was abandoned. The remainder of the branch line between Milford and Spencer was abandoned a couple of years later.
The Dickinson County Recreational Trail’s spine trail exists along portions of the former railroad’s right-of-way between Spirit Lake and Okoboji and from south of Arnolds Park to Milford. A trestle that crosses East and West Lakes Okoboji, which is also part of the spine trail, still exists.
The former depot in Spirit Lake now houses a portion of the Dickinson County Museum.
The public is cordially invited to attend Saturday’s ceremony.
DAR Plaque designating former depot as a historic location
Sliding door in freight house of former depot
Agent’s office (note museum artifacts)
Passenger waiting area (originally had benches and/or chairs, now contains museum artifacts)
The window where passengers would purchase tickets
