PINE RIVER DEPOT RESTORATION PROJECT

---

This webpage is intended to provide general information regarding the Pine River Depot restoration project. It presents some reasons for restoring the depot, a glimpse at the project’s history thus far, the vision for the depot restoration and plans for funding the project. A donor list will be added at a later date. The webpage will be updated as progress is made toward the ultimate goal of depot restoration and preservation.  Comments regarding the restoration project can be made in the www.pinerivermn.com "Guest Book".

On Wednesday, December 22, 2004 a Memoradum of Agreement was signed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the City of Pine River, Heritage Group North, the Pine River Chamber of Commerce, the Department of the Army and the Minnesota Historical Society. The agreement will lead the way for the Minnesota Department of Transportation to stabilize and move the historic depot to its new site, just across the Paul Bunyan Trail. Along with moving the depot, the pavers and cart way will be re-constructed in front of the building. Heritage Group North will then take over the restoration of the depot. An exciting time in Pine River! The move is expected to be complete by fall of 2005.

On Tuesday, April 8, 2008 the City of Pine River agreed to receive the Pine River Depot from the Minnesota Department of Transportation! Plans call for the depot to be moved across the Paul Bunyan Trail to its new location sometime in 2008 with exterior restoration to begin therfeafter. The project is moving ahead through the efforts of many dedicated to preserving one of Pine River's only remaining historic buildings!

Feel free to read through the entire webpage, or go directly to your subject of choice by clicking on the titles below:

Why Restore the Pine River Depot? (Revised January '03)
Some Project History (Revised January '03)
What’s the Depot Restoration Plan? (Revised January '03)
How Will the Depot Restoration Plan be Funded?(Revised January '03)
How Can You Help? (Revised January '03)
Donor List

---

Why Restore the Pine River Depot? Back to Top

The reasons to restore and preserve the Pine River Depot are numerous. First and foremost is that it has been, and can continue to be, a highly visible, recognizable and historic Pine River landmark. The original depot building was built in 1895, with various additions and alterations thereafter until about 1913. Since 1913 it has remained essentially unchanged--except for the removal of the canopy over the open-air waiting area that extended off the south end of the building.

This restoration project will not only preserve an historic 108-year-old building, but also help preserve a significant piece of local history. The railroad, when built in 1894, opened much of north central Minnesota to logging, provided access to and settlement of the area, and accounted for the development of many area communities such as Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Jenkins, Pine River, Backus, and Hackensack.

The depot's historical significance was validated by Minnesota's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) when it determined in 2001 that the Pine River Depot was eligible for listing on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places. This is the only property in Pine River to ever receive this designation!

Restoration of a building with so much historical significance for this area will provide Pine River with a permanent, recognizable landmark, much like Pequot Lakes’ "bobber" water tower. Preservation of the depot can become a source of civic pride for Pine River area residents, and when shared with others traveling to, and through, the area it can help stimulate heritage tourism; that is, give people a reason to stop--it will help make Pine River a destination. Further, it can aid with economic development by demonstrating to prospective businesses and residents an example of community pride.

In August 2001 a State Historic Architect made a structural and architectural evaluation of the depot building. His assessment was that the depot restoration should be a reasonably straight-forward project, and that he did not think there were any hidden mysteries that would become extreme money pits.

What better building than the historic Pine River Depot to tell the story of the greater Pine River area--the history of the depot, the railway, logging, Pine River's mainstreet, area resorting and the people that made Pine River what it is today--from Indian trail through current multi-use recreational trail!

The depot is one of the last historically significant commercial buildings in Pine River--its preservation will be a good thing for the Pine River area--its restoration will be a great community project!

Some Project History Back to Top

In April 2001 several Pine River area residents and alumni formed a group called the Depot Delegation--a group dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Pine River Depot. This group quickly evolved into a non-profit organization that was named Heritage Group North (HGN).

The creation of this non-profit organization was necessary to make the restoration effort eligible for grants from various private and government sources, as well as to make donations tax deductible. To achieve non-profit status HGN established an affiliation with the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation(BLACF), which is a division of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation(CMCF). This association with CMCF and BLACF eliminated the laborious and costly efforts necessary for HGN to establish non-profit status on its own.

While the Depot Delegation was founded solely to achieve the restoration and preservation of the Pine River depot, HGN is meant to continue into perpetuity. Its vision is to serve as an ongoing community fund, or foundation, that will not only facilitate restoration and preservation of the depot, but also continue to attract charitable funds to be reinvested in future Pine River area civic projects.

The beauty of the formation and mission of Heritage Group North long term, and the depot project in the near term, is that its prospective plans dovetail with portions of the recently adopted Pine River Area Comprehensive Plan. The following excerpts from the Plan show the City’s vision as it relates to projects like the depot restoration:

      An economic development goal is to "encourage community features
      and activities that make the community more pleasant and attractive to
      residents, visitors and prospective businesses."

     A parks and recreation goal states "as part of the Barclay West
     redevelopment site, the city should support the development of a
     central park concept adjacent to the Paul Bunyan Trail and the
     Trailside Information Center."

Since the formation of HGN its members have been busy organizing, researching, planning, building public support and starting the necessary fundraising campaign. These activities include, but are not limited to: historical research of the depot and the local railway and their relationship to the greater Pine River area; determination of the best plan of restoration, with input from a State Historic Architect, the State Historic Preservation Office and numerous other groups and individuals; garnering extensive publicity on the Depot project in the local media, as well as making numerous informational presentations to the general public, the Pine River Chamber, the Pine River City Council, and manning informational booths at Pine River area festivals; commissioning a rendition of the Depot as it will be when restored and building a scale model of the "restored" depot to help convey our vison for the restoration; acquiring estimates for moving the depot and Phase I restoration costs; sponsoring a Chinese buffet at the Pine River Legion and a sit-down dinner at the Red Pine Supper Club(the beginning of the fundraising campaign).

Much has been done--however, much remains to be done!

What’s the Depot Restoration Plan? Back to Top

The complete restoration of the depot to its 1913 configuration, and the conversion of the old freightroom into an interpretive center, is expected to take three to four years and will be done in phases.

Phase I-Exterior Restoration includes moving the depot from its current location to a spot directly across the Paul Bunyan Trail(see depot siting sketch). It will be turned so its business side, the side formerly facing the railroad tracks, will face the Paul Bunyan Trail and Hwy 371. This repositioning by itself will improve its appearance from Hwy 371 and also move it away from highway traffic onto the park-like City property on the west side of the PB Trail, just south of the Pine River Information Center.

Depot Siting Sketch

The relocated depot will be placed on a new foundation--a full basement. A full basement was recommended by the State Historic Architect to provide storage space for revolving display materials not currently in use in the planned interpretive center. A basement will also provide a good spot for heating and ventilation equipment. Further, cost savings related to using a slab with five-foot footings versus a full basement is minimal. Do it right the first time is the credo!

Once moved, the depot building must be stabilized, straightened and made weather-tight. This includes making it level and plumb, as well as adding a floor to the freightroom as part of the building stabilization. Other restoration will include repairing any sill and stud damage as well as repairing siding, trim, doorways and windows.

Finally, the depot's exterior will be stripped, pressure washed, scraped, sanded and primed. It will then be repainted to its circa 1913 Minnesota and International Railway "boxcar red" color. This color can be seen on the recently refurbished Lake Hubert Depot.

Completion of this portion of Phase I-Exterior Restoration is expected to cost approximately $60-65,000. Desired completion of this sub-phase is summer
2004--by which time the proposed Hwy 371 alignment/layout within the City of Pine River should be known. This will assure that the depot's new location will not be adversely affected by any change in Hwy 371's alignment/layout, or vice versa.

The balance of Phase I-Exterior Restoration includes reconstruction of the open-air waiting area canopy, reconstruction of the two classic brick chimneys, re-roofing with historically accurate sawn-wood shingles and reconstruction of the 250 foot brick platform.

This second portion of Phase I is expected to cost approximately $30-35,000. Depending on fundraising success this sub-phase may also be completed in summer 2004.

Phase II-Interior Restoration and Improvements will include installing a heating and ventilation system, upgrading the electrical system, restoring the office and waiting area to vintage condition and converting the freightroom into a display area and interpretive center. The interpretive center will be used to tell the story related to the history of the former railway, the depot and how they related to the history of the greater Pine River area.

Depending on complexity of interpretive materials and displays this portion of Phase II may become a separate sub-phase of the interior restoration.

Additional phases may include construction of a railbed with railroad tracks along the depot platform--to lend authenticity to the site, and possibly construction of a replica of the former water tower.

All restoration and construction will be done in accordance with U. S. Department of Interior historic restoration specifications, the Americans With Disabilities Act and Pine River building codes.

Shown here is a photo circa 1913 when the depot reached its final configuration. Also shown is an artist's rendering of the envisioned depot restoration painted by Thomas Ottoson, Pine River class of 1959. This rendition will be displayed in the Pine River Information Center and/or other area businesses for public viewing--a picture is worth a thousand words!

             Photo Circa 1913 Pine River Depot Restored--Circa 1913

How Will the Depot Restoration be Funded? Back to Top

The need for funds will encompass the physical move of the depot to a new foundation, restoration and improvement of the building, development of historical/educational materials, possible purchase of railroad and depot artifacts, improvement of the grounds, as well as long-term maintenance and operating expenses.

Heritage Group North’s plan is to raise the necessary funds through local contributions from the greater Pine River area, contributions from Pine River alumni outside the Pine River area, miscellaneous fund-raising events, and grants from various private foundations and government sources. Likely grant sources are the Bremer Foundation, Blandin Foundation, Initiative Foundation, MN Historical Society, U.S. Historical Preservation Fund, TEA-21(Federal transportation fund), MnDNR and others yet to be identified. A further source of funds--actually a reduction in project cost--is use of in-kind(donated) labor and materials and also discounted labor and materials.

How Can You Help? Back to Top

Three general categories of help are needed for this restoration project to be successful. First, beyond moral and vocal support, volunteer man(woman)power is needed to help with the multitude of project tasks that must be completed as the project progresses through its various stages. These tasks can be anything from helping with a local fundraising effort to writing grants--and anything in-between. If you have an interest in this project, please let us know if you are willing to help.

A second category involves in-kind labor and/or materials. If you can help with excavation for the basement, construction of the basement, have carpentry, electrical, masonry or other needed skills, or materials, and are willing to donate them to help complete all or part of a restoration project task, please let us know.

Finally, the other obvious need is for additional donations and/or pledges to continue to build a financial foundation as the grant writing process commences; in fact, most grants require matching funds from the local community. The preference is for a cash donation in 2003 with pledges for 2004 and 2005 or beyond. Pledge cards are available from HGN or at the Pine River Information Center. If it’s easier, one can make smaller donations more often; for example, monthly, quarterly or whatever works for you. If these options are not right for you, any one-time donation will be appreciated.

All individual donations are held in trust by HGN and CMCF-- in a specific Pine River Depot Restoration Fund. Individual donations will not be spent on administrative costs, they will not be spent on any portion of the depot restoration project until there are enough funds to complete at least the first portion of the Phase 1- Exterior Restoration, and further, if for any reason the depot restoration does not get off the ground, all individual donations can be refunded.

Donations can be sent to: Heritage Group North, Depot Restoration Fund, PO Box 236, Pine River, MN 56474. For more information, feel free to contact HGN at the above address, or email aljohn@uslink.net, or call the Pine River Information Center at 587-4000 or 800-728-6926. Donations can also be given personally by contacting HGN and making appropriate arrangements.

Historic railroad or depot artifacts can also be donated for use in the future depot display area and interpretive center. Any old depot photo’s or copies of photo’s will also be appreciated--especially any that include the water tower or building interior. These photo’s will be an aid in the restoration process and later can be put on display in the interpretive center.

All donations are tax deductible, so donate now and beat the year-end tax deadline. Remember, no donation is too small--or, too large!

On behalf of Heritage Group North, the Pine River Depot Restoration Fund, and all Pine River area residents--thank you for your generous support.

Donor List Back to Top

This donor list will also eventually be displayed inside the restored depot’s display area and interpretive center on a permanent “wall of thanks.”

As of January 2003, contributions are as follows: Cash (Donations)- $5,510;
Cash (Misc. Fundraisers) - $1,660; Pledges (Cash) - $20,300.