One focal point in early Big Lake History was the Northern Pacific railroad station which appears at the right in the photo submitted by Goldie(Putnam) Johnson. The 1890’s photo shows people apparently waiting for the arrival of an important train. Buildings at the left are a feed mill and business owned by J.E. Putnan
According to the 1917 Northern Pacific valuation Records, a new station was built here in 1902 that measured 24’x42′
There were 2 train depots in Big Lake for a period of time. The south tracks were installed The Great Northern Railroad and the north tracks were installed by The Northern Pacific Railroad. Each had there own depot.Later, one depot served both railroads It is believed to be one of the reasons there is a double line still running through Big Lake.
In later years the railroads shared a station, but according to the 1903 map of the town GN and NP had separate stations. They were essentially next to each other on the east side of Lake Street South. The NP tracks were north of the GN tracks. According to the 1915 GN Vaulation Records, the GN only owned a platform here between the tracks, so it likely used the NP station.
Long time resident Stan Lumley said The Great Northern Railroad depot on the south side of the tracks was build in accordance to a purchase agreement to sell their family home, the Putnam house built in 1890. The buyer was to pay $500 and had to build a railroad passenger and freight depot in Big Lake.
Big Lake Union Depot from the early 50’s. Served both the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroads.
http://www.west2k.com/mnstations/sherburne.shtml
Website shows all the old Sherburne County depots and information.
Long time resident Stan Lumley also shared that the depot was made from Douglas fir and was dismantled by the Brown family from Becker. They used the materials to build a rambler style home which was later bought as part of the Sherco Property.
Bob Olson from 66 to 68 my dad used to put me on the train at midnight on sunday nights to go back to college in Valley City , North dakota. Bill Knopp was the depot agent then,,it was called the “milk train” and we would go over the Highline bridge at Valley City at 6:30 the next morning for a whopping student rate of $3.75 (260 miles). great way to travel
According to Robert Swanson, his father Ray Swanson worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad 1945 and 1946 at age 15 and 16. His job was to fill the water tank every couple of days. Both of Ray’s parents passed away at different times the same year when he was 15 years old. Ray moved in with his uncle Bert Brown. Bert worked as a supervisor for Northern Pacific and hired Ray to keep the water tank full. Ray also worked with the track laying crew.
Linda Woolhouse shared a photo of her grandfather Bert Brown’s keyring containing the depot key.
In later years the railroads shared a station, but according to the 1903 map of the town GN and NP had separate stations. They were essentially next to each other on the east side of Lake Street South. The NP tracks were north of the GN tracks. According to the 1915 GN Vaulation Records, the GN only owned a platform here between the tracks, so it likely used the NP station.
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