Courtesy Photo The Historic Harrisville Train Depot has been renovated and will be the site of Santa at the Depot on Dec. 7.

HARRISVILLE — How many people does it take to save a historic depot?

In the case of the Harrisville Train Depot, it takes an entire community.

The historic Harrisville Train Depot was built in 1901 and is one of few remaining passenger train depots in Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula. Situated within viewing distance of Lake Huron alongside a working railway line, it’s a true forgotten treasure, tucked away within the City of Harrisville. The depot is constructed of locally sourced cut limestone and was designed by esteemed architects in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

Previous local efforts to preserve the structure provided a solid starting point to move forward with preservation and site development. While the depot has sat empty and abandoned for decades, a victim of decay, destruction, and repeated vandalism, those days are over. Thanks to the generosity of Lake State Railway, the Harrisville community now holds title to the property, so the fate of the depot is in their hands.

With the generous help of community donations and active volunteers, the newly organized nonprofit organization, Friends of the Harrisville Train Depot, is working to save and restore this historic site to provide the Sunrise Side region with a historically significant structure serving as a multi-use community resource for education, events and performances, geared to Alcona County residents, families, seniors, and visitors alike.

Completed Stabilization Projects

Due to generous community support, noted below is a timeline of completed Phase 1 Stabilization efforts.

Projects completed in 2023 include:

¯ Lake State Railway deeded the depot to the Alcona Historical Society during a community celebration attended by 50 community members.

¯ The Harrisville Depot Committee, sub-group of Alcona Historical Society, launched harrisvilledepot.com and a community GoFundMe with funds earmarked for Phase 1 Stabilization.

¯ A pro bono site survey was done, and a pro bono historic preservationist and architect provided an overall renovation plan.

¯ The Harrisville Depot Committee applied for and secured funding through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy for a Baseline Environmental Assessment, resulting in a positive report.

¯ Donated funds were used to begin Phase 1 Stabilization including electrical utilities, purchase of on-site and wayfinding signage, securing the vulnerable building.

¯ Community donations helped the committee research and select a local vendor for the purchase and installation of updated on-site security and internet connectivity to secure the structure, which is vulnerable to continued destruction by vandals.

¯ Depot grant committee research and applications submitted nine grant requests for funding.

¯ On-site clean-up/clean-out days attended by more than 40 volunteers.

¯ Summer Discover Your Depot third Friday events were attended by more than 60 people to enjoy the Depot grounds, games, and refreshments.

¯ A volunteer-led city-wide garage sale was held at the Depot, generating substantial donations and funds attended by more than 120 supporters.

¯ The Depot Committee applied for and received a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan to help fund the purchase of historically appropriate fencing.

¯ An August silent auction and pig roast held at Lost Lake Woods was a sold-out event generating substantial donations and funds, attended by more than 130 people.

¯ Continuation of on-site Depot Work Days for interior stabilization, window and door repair, and woodwork repair.

¯ Completed legal documents to seek restitution for vandalism to the building exterior.

¯ Santa at the Depot event attended by more than 40 families.

Projects completed in 2024 include:

¯ Roof replacement to remedy failure of previous roof which incurred interior water damage, and chimney repair and installation.

¯ Window and interior woodwork repairs.

¯ Pro bono historic preservationist guidance on graffiti and exterior cleaning. Vendor selection and process for full exterior cleaning of depot exterior by preservationist-approved vendor.

¯ Launched and managed successful Donate a Fence Panel fundraising program.

¯ Fencing purchase and installation from preservationist-approved vendor and volunteer-led fencing installation.

¯ Delivery and installation of donated steel storage container to assist with renovation projects.

¯ Depot Committee volunteers incorporated as the Friends of the Harrisville Train Depot, recognized as a tax exempt nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code as requested by Alcona HIstorical Society.

¯ Spring Clean Up Days, Depot Work Days continue, attended by 20 volunteers.

¯ Discover Your Depot Friday events continue for the community to enjoy the Depot grounds, games, and refreshments, attended by more than 80 people.

¯ Volunteer-led city-wide garage sale at the Depot generates substantial donations and funds, attended by more than 120 people.

¯ An on-site wetland delineation was completed in the spring of 2024.

¯ Received a property donation of an adjacent city lot on Dock Street.

Santa at the Depot Dec. 7

Now in the works are the Sunday, Dec. 7 Santa at the Depot event, more grant applications and continued renovation as part of Phase 2 Stabilization in 2025.

The Friends of the Harrisville Train Depot sincerely thank everyone who has put the Historic Harrisville Depot on a solid path to preservation. They are grateful to Lake State Railroad for gifting the depot and to the entire community, businesses and individuals alike, for their ongoing support.

For more information, or to join the preservation efforts, visit harrisvilledepot.com.