Minnesota and International Railway Depot in 1914

Pine River's Heritage Group North has applied for a $250,000 Minnesota Transportation History Network grant to move the depot across the Paul Bunyan Trail from where it currently sits, and restore it.

The Cass County Board has agreed to serve as the grants' fiscal agent, if awarded.

MnDOT, the depot's current owner, has committed $112,000 for the project if the city takes ownership of the depot.

MnDOT tried to give the city the depot along with giving back the $11,100 half-acre easement it purchased from the city in October of 2007 for the depot's relocation.

City councilors voted, Feb. 12, against assuming ownership, citing the desire to avoid future potential liabilities with the restoration and upkeep of the depot.

"Right now there is potential of about $362,000 on the table to move and restore the Depot. If we don't reach an agreement, that opportunity will be lost," said Tim Bray, MnDOT project manager.

"MnDOT's continued ownership and maintenance of the Depot would not be the best use of our limited transportation funding," Bray continued.

Bray added that the city and MnDOT are still negotiating and that he's optimistic that a solution that is acceptable to both parties will be reached.

MnDOT is ineligible for the Transportation History Network grant because the funds originated from an appropriation through the Federal Highway Administration.

The Minnesota Historical Society has received applications and will be making the awards.

Dennis Gimmestad, compliance officer from State Historica Preservation Office (SHPO) said that the Transportation History Network grant program is well funded. "The maximum amounts available in this program are quite a bit higher than any program that we have had for many, many, many years - or probably any program that we expect to have again in many, many years," he said.

SHPO Deputy Britta Bloomberg echoed Gimmestad's statement. "It's kind of a one-time grant program that could come to the aid of this important local resource," she said. "If there's any way that (it) can come together, it would be very exciting, I think, for the local community."

Four applicants - including Heritage Group North - are seeking funds through the grant program. Three of the four applicants are for depot projects. The fourth applicant is for a railroad property.

On April 3 a SHPO grants review committee will be looking at the applications and making recommendations on awards.

If the grant is awarded, it requires a 20 percent match by the applicant. MnDOT's $112,000 would more than cover the $50,000-match on a $250,000 total grant.

"It's very rare that you have a grant program that has a matching requirement that is, really, so modest, in proportion to the amount of grant funds that would be available," Bloomberg said. "Most of our grant programs are a dollar-for-dollar match; this can really make a huge difference, particularly when it's a smaller organization or a smaller community."

Those who would like to see the city take ownership of the depot may have a tough sell to make.

The city's Attorney Ted Lundrigan advised the council, March 11 during their regular meeting, to bring their "skepticism and their pencils," to the planning meeting.

"We don't want to exercise ownership of the Titanic; if it's going to sink, we don't want to own it," he said.

Lundrigan laid out three scenarios for the council: 1) the depot stays where it is, as it is. 2) the depot is relocated across the trail, but is not restored. 3) the depot is moved and restored and then the city takes ownership of it. "That of all the alternatives is the best; we're getting the keys to the thing when it's done," Lundrigan said.

What did the Minnesota Transportation History Network grant application require?

• Brief history and significance of property
• Physical description and need
• Project planning and timetable
• Property use and funding
• Transportation and history
• Description of public benefit

Did you know? The ÒDepot DelegationÓ met for the first time in April of 2001 to talk about saving Pine River's depot.

Browsing the Pine River Journal's archives revealed the following wrote letters or articles in support of the depot at that time:

Loyl Stromberg
Hazel E. Hanson
Georgi Krueger
Bob Coulter
Don Dabill
Amanda Amy
Bruce and Aves Koppenberg
Blanche McAllister Swift
Alan Johnson
Opal Johnson
Glen Leverington
Doug Birk

Did you know?

The depot was built in 1895.