Princeton’s New $20,000 Station
The UNION presents herewith cuts made from the blue prints of the new $20,000 station that the Great Northern Railway Co. will erect at Princeton, and work on which has already commenced. The two cuts show the exterior styles and design and the ground floor plans. The depot will be the finest within 200 miles of the twin cities. The plans show a very pretty and attractive style of architecture which is a combination of Queen Ann and Dutch. The depot will be built of Princeton cream brick with artistic trimmings of sandstone. The cut stone in the building will cost $3,000. The roof will be finished with red cedar shingles dipped in creosote which preserves them and makes them fire proof.
The depot proper, including the two waiting rooms, ticket office and toilet rooms, will be 85 feet long. The ladies’ waiting room will be 25x30 feet, while the men’s waiting room will be 30x30 feet. Connecting the two waiting rooms will be a passage way 12x26 feet. On the east of the passage way and opening into the waiting rooms will be two fine toilet rooms, 12 feet three inches by 10 feet. Connected with the toilet rooms will be a small cupboard. Located between the waiting rooms will be the ticket office, 17x24 feet, with a large bay window fronting the track.
The ticket office will be fitted up with all conveniences for the agent and operator. From the office a stairway will lead up to the second floor on which will be located a store room. The ticket window will face the passage way.
Adjoining the men’s waiting room is the baggage room 18x30 feet, and next to this is the express room the same size. Beyond the express room is the freight house 30x80 feet. Located in the northwest corner of the freight house is a warm room for the storage of goods during cold weather.
The interior finish to the depot will be red oak with floors of hard maple. In the basement will be located the steam heating plant, and wash room, etc., for the use of the employees. The station will be lighted with electric lights from the village plant.
The total length of the depot from gable to gable will be 215 feet. From the platform to the peak of the gable over the bay window the distance is 38 feet, nine feet higher than the Litchfield depot, and 27 feet longer. The platform running along the west side of the depot will be 20 feet wide and constructed of stone, while the platform at the ends and along the east side of the depot will be of timber. The east side platform is 12 feet wide. From the depot to First of Depot street there will be a platform forty feet in length. Next year the water tank will be moved south beyond the switch to make additional room for platforms.
The contractors, Libby & Nelson of Minneapolis, started in last Friday with a large crew of men and work on the depot will be pushed as rapidly as possible. Harvey Nelson will have the formanship and general supervision of the work. He says that the depot will be finished and ready for occupancy by the first of next year.
The people of Princeton can well afford to wait until that time as the new station will make a fine holiday present. Princeton has always stood loyally by the Great Northern road and Mr. Hill. The Great Northern has always treated its patrons in Princeton and vicinity in a friendly manner, and Princeton has certainly appreciated the kind treatment. A new depot has long been needed here, and it was largely through the efforts of the publisher of the UNION that Princeton has secured such a large and commodious one. The relationship existing between Mr. Hill and the people of Princeton has always been one of confidence, and the generosity of the Great Northern road in constructing such a splendid structure will serve to strengthen the confidence and relationship between the railroad and its Princeton patrons.
In this connection it is the duty of the village council to take immediate steps to provide for the extension of the water main to the depot, and the council and property owners on First street and public-spirited citizens of the village generally should see to it that proper sewerage connections are provided. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, October 2, 1902, Volume XXVI, Number 42, Page 1)