Had an email today which asked whether our 1858-built Fort Gratiot depot, built by the Chicago, Detroit, & Canada Grand Trunk Junction R.R., is the oldest survivng depot in the State of Michigan, and how close we were to being the oldest west of the Blue Ridge. We are alas, neither, but in trying to find the answer, came up with following, which I thought would be of interest to RYPN readers. So far, I have found these that beat us for "west of the Appalachians:"
Mineral Point, Wisconsin depot (1856: holds the title for oldest in Wisconsin.)
Augusta, Michigan (1852: Michigan's second oldest, built by the Michigan Central)
Coldwater, Michigan depot (1850: Michigan's oldest, built by the Michigan Southern.)
Hedges Station, Illinois (1849: holds the title of oldest in Illinois: built by Galena and Chicago Union Railroad)
Also, I'm proud to say that three other C.D.& C. G.T. Jct R.R. depots, all built in 1859, are well taken care of: Smiths Creek, now at "The Henry Ford"; Mt. Clemens, now under the protection of the Michigan Transit Museum; and New Haven, recently restored into a museum in its original location. Love to hear what others beat us out!
Oh yeah, and as near as I can tell, we are number three in Michigan, the above three tied for fourth.
TJ Gaffney
Coldwater, Michigan, oldest Depot in Michigan
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org