History of the Sleepy Eye Depot

History of the Sleepy Eye Depot

     The Winona & St. Peter Railroad first reached Sleepy Eye in 1872.  A plat map for the Village of Sleepy Eye Lake was filed on September 18, 1887.  The first depot burned down in January 1887. 

     A second depot was built by June 1887 and was used as a freight depot for many years.  It still stands a block east of the Depot Museum.  The present depot was built in 1902 of red-faced brick and stone trimming.  It consisted of a baggage room, men's waiting room, family waiting room, and the east end lunch room.  For 87 years the Chicago and North Western Railroad has passenger rail service at Sleepy Eye.  The steam-liner "Dakota 400" made its last stop in Sleepy Eye on October 25, 1960.  After that the Depot served as a freight office.
In the early 1980s the C and NW Railroad offered to sell the depot.  The Sleepy Eye Depot Preservation Inc. was formed to purchase and renovate the depot.  A fund drive was started and in 1984 the depot was purchased.  Since that time many changes have taken place.  The building was re-roofed and the bricks were tuck-pointed and cleaned.  Inside, the woodwork was refinished and insulation was inserted behind the wall panels.  The floors were sanded and sealed, a new electrical system and gas furnace were installed and the bathroom area was renovated.  All the windows were replaced with new energy efficient ones.  A handicapped accessible ramp and landscaping enhanced the building.

     On July 3, 1990 the Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society received the keys to the depot, now known as the "Depot Museum", filled with artifacts from the Sleepy Eye area.  In 1992 the depot was named to the National Register of Historical Places.




History of the Sleepy Eye Area
Historical Society

     In the beginning a group of interested people met in the kitchen of Romona Witt in the summer of 1979.  In 1980 a general public meeting was held in the cafeteria of the old Sleepy Eye Public School.  From there an organizational meeting was held on May 8th, 1981.

     Actual starting date was May 11, 1981 at which time the Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society was given an official seal, letter of incorporation and charter by the Minnesota Historical Society.  At this time, the following officers were elected;


President: Pam Krzmarzick
Vice President: Ed Kolbe
Treasurer: Alma Romberg
Act Sec: Judy Beech

Directors
David Haala
Merton Stimpert
Lola Robertson

Coordinator of the Museum: Rose Horton. 

     Having no official home they met in the basement of the old Sleepy Eye City Building, in the City Council Office also in the City Building, and the Chamber of Commerce Office.  The Sleepy Eye Historical Society has found a permanent home now at the Depot Museum since 1987.

     In 1982, the Historical Society took over running the Great Grassroots Gathering - it is the last "hurrah" of summer - held the last Sunday in September.  It features food, flea market, and vendor booths.  Jean Caspars and Michal Anderson-Lowther were the first co-chairs.

     In 1982, a committee headed by Betty Schmidt started the monument beautification project, with the approval of the City Council.  They have planted marigolds and roses as needed around the monument every year.

     In April 1984, the Depot Preservation Committee was formed and in September 1984 they purchased the Chicago, Northwestern Brick Depot and renovation began.  In 1996, the final interior renovation was completed.





History of the Sleepy Eye Depot

     The Winona & St. Peter Railroad first reached Sleepy Eye in 1872.  A plat map for the Village of Sleepy Eye Lake was filed on September 18, 1887.  The first depot burned down in January 1887. 

     A second depot was built by June 1887 and was used as a freight depot for many years.  It still stands a block east of the Depot Museum.  The present depot was built in 1902 of red-faced brick and stone trimming.  It consisted of a baggage room, men's waiting room, family waiting room, and the east end lunch room.  For 87 years the Chicago and North Western Railroad has passenger rail service at Sleepy Eye.  The steam-liner "Dakota 400" made its last stop in Sleepy Eye on October 25, 1960.  After that the Depot served as a freight office.
In the early 1980s the C and NW Railroad offered to sell the depot.  The Sleepy Eye Depot Preservation Inc. was formed to purchase and renovate the depot.  A fund drive was started and in 1984 the depot was purchased.  Since that time many changes have taken place.  The building was re-roofed and the bricks were tuck-pointed and cleaned.  Inside, the woodwork was refinished and insulation was inserted behind the wall panels.  The floors were sanded and sealed, a new electrical system and gas furnace were installed and the bathroom area was renovated.  All the windows were replaced with new energy efficient ones.  A handicapped accessible ramp and landscaping enhanced the building.

     On July 3, 1990 the Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society received the keys to the depot, now known as the "Depot Museum", filled with artifacts from the Sleepy Eye area.  In 1992 the depot was named to the National Register of Historical Places.










3 comments:

  1. My maternal grandparents, Wolfgang and Mary Schoenberger, lived in Sleepy Eye from the late 1800s into the early 1900's. Their marriage license dated 1904 indicates Sleepy Eye Lake as their place of residence. As I am working on our family genealogy, I would love to learn more about your area. I am in search of long lost family members. I'm thrilled to find your site! Cindy Miegel, Frisco, Texas

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  2. My maternal Bellig family and Rinke family move to Sleepy Eye in mid 1870-1880. Where our families were raised. The SE Museum and HS are great organizations
    Mike Harmer, Huntersville, NC.

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  3. I was born in Sleepy Eye in 1954. I was the youngest of 4 children born to Joseph and Joleen (Seidl) Kessler. My grandparents on my dad’s side were Conrad and Hermina (Unzeitig) Kessler. On my mother’s side her parents were William and Laura (Girg) Seidl. We moved from MN to northern IL when I was very young but when old enough my siblings and I were put on “The 400” in Harvard, IL and traveled to Sleepy Eye to visit our grandparents. It was always very exciting and I remember it to be a long journey. Another interesting fact is that my grandfather William Seidl worked for the railroad and ran the “roundhouse” in Sleepy Eye. It was always a treat when he would let us ride in the locomotive engine when switching cars or turning engines for a return trip. I have a lot of really fond memories of Sleepy Eye having spent many a summer.

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