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in Princeton , believing a bigger first class depot would attract travelers and business . Hill stated that if Princeton would raise $ 20,000 , he would build the deluxe depot Princeton requested . Local business leaders did raise the money — more than $ 600,000 in today ’ s dollars — and construction began at a brisk pace .
On Jan . 30 , 1903 , the existing depot was dedicated , and was pronounced to be the “ finest depot within 200 miles of the Twin Cities ”. The main products shipped from Princeton were agricultural and forest products along with hundreds of millions of Brickton bricks made just three miles north of the depot in the five Brickton brickyards .
Regularly scheduled passenger service to Princeton ceased in 1952 . By 1971 , the Milaca Line , like scores of other unprofitable “ branch lines ” was being closed down by the railroad because of losing freight revenue to trucks on improved and expanded roadways . After the line closed , the Princeton Great Northern Railway depot was turned over to the City of Princeton , which used parts of it in the following two decades for various purposes , including housing the Public Library .
When Princeton City offices moved to more modern facilities , the entire depot was given to the Mille Lacs County Historical Society . The 1902 Princeton depot was one of three built of brick and stone by the Great Northern ( GN ) Railroad in the same Dutch and Queen Anne style . A similar GN depot in Bellingham , Washington burned in 1926 . A sister GN depot in Litchfield , Minnesota was torn down in 1985 . This left the Princeton GN depot as the last of its kind in the United States . In 1977 , the Princeton Great Northern depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places .
Railroad equipment located on the Princeton depot property today includes : a 1963 Milwaukee Road refrigerated
boxcar , a 1963 Burlington Northern flatcar , a 1925 wooden Milwaukee Road boxcar , a 1963 Burlington Northern wide-vision steel caboose and the tiny 12 foot by 34 foot Long ’ s Siding Great Northern depot which was moved to Princeton depot grounds in 2016 . The first one-room Pioneer Schoolhouse built in Mille Lacs County ( in 1856 ) also is on display on the depot grounds .
Inside the Princeton Great Northern depot are many photos , artifacts and documents . Past issues of local newspapers going back to 1877 are available on microfilm , as well as extensive card files on Mille Lacs County births , deaths and marriages for genealogy and history researchers . Thanks to a major gift from Ken and John Amdall , the former freight house part of the depot has been historically restored and renovated and is available as an event venue for weddings , meetings and other activities involving up to 125 people . The Mille Lacs County Historical Society can be reached at 763- 607-3195 or by message at 763-389-1296 .
The Mille Lacs County Historical Society and Princeton Depot Museum is currently open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a . m . to 2 p . m ., ( except for holidays ) or at other times by arrangement . General admission to the museum is free . A small fee applies to view special exhibits .
The MLCHS is an all-volunteer organization which is approved by the IRS as a 501 ( c )( 3 ) tax exempt organization . Community volunteers are welcomed and donations are vital to continue this local history initiative . Call Barry Schreiber at 763.607.3195 for details about the Historical Society , the museum or rental of the Amdall Room .
Contact Info Barry Schreiber at 763.607.3195
Serving Clients in Princeton and throughout Minnesota since 1902 .
See See us us for for all all your insurance needs Offices in Princeton • Milaca • Milaca • Foley • • Foley East Bethel • Onamia • Onamia • Cambridge
• 104 S . Rum River Dr .
Princeton , MN 763-389-3650
www . princetonins . com
Page 16 Princeton Community Guide • March 2025