Making the list - Depot officially a historic place

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NEGAUNEE - The word "historic" is often used when describing Negaunee's downtown, and now one local building is helping make that designation official.

The Marquette and Western Railroad Negaunee Freight Depot, a 420 Rail Street, was recently named by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a listing in the National Register of Historic Places. According to the Department of the Interior, the register is used as "the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation."

Owner Richard Uren, who purchased the building about three years ago, said receiving the recognition was an honor.

"It has so much history," said Uren, who operates his architectural business, Northern Design Works, out of the structure. "It's one of the oldest buildings in the city. They built it when they built the railroad up to Negaunee."

The depot was constructed in 1884 in the late-Victorian-stick style and to this day retains its original exterior board and batten siding and Victorian trim.

At the time the building was completed, the local newspaper, the Negaunee Iron Herald, noted its stylish nature.

"The Marquette & Western depot in this city, just about completed, is without any exceptions, the finest structure of the kind to be found in this or any other state," the newspaper reported on Aug. 28, 1884. "It has been supplied with city water and other conveniences, besides being handsomely painted and furnished with elegant furniture."

The current building's current home, however, was not its original location. The May 17, 1911, edition of the Marquette Mining Journal indicated that the building was expected to be moved across the tracks directly west of the Union Station, which is still located on Gold Street in Negaunee. However, that move, according to the Mining Journal, did not occur until 1912, putting the depot on Rail Street where it stands today.

"I think it's wonderful that there is recognition of this building now," said Uren. "I don't think a lot of people in town realize what it is or that it's as old as it is. Like many of the old buildings in town, this one could use a lot of work, but it's nice to have recognition of what is here and the history of it."