The Baraboo Depot is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places

January. 2022

The Baraboo Depot and Division Headquarters Office Building was placed on the State Register of Historic Places on November 19 and will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022 after the nomination is reviewed by the National Park Service. The Baraboo Depot was listed for its importance to state-wide transportation history and its uniqueness as a combination depot and division headquarters building. The nomination was funded through the Fuldner Heritage Fund, an endowed fund started with a generous gift from the Jeffris Family Foundation to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

A historic structure report has been in the works for the past six months to document the history and current condition of the building along with plans for the future and restoration estimates. The report is being produced under the lead of The Kubala Washatko Architects. The report is set to be finished by the end of January and will guide future use and restoration of the building as a multi-purpose building with exhibits and community space. 

November 2021 Historic Structures Report Nears Completion

We haven’t mentioned the Baraboo Depot for awhile but that doesn’t mean things haven’t been happening. The building is in the last few weeks of a six-month study to document it’s history, current condition, and needs for full restoration and adaptive reuse. The historic structure report has been led by Adam Voltz of The Kubala Washatko Architects of Cedarburg. The building was scanned by laser inside and out to create accurate working drawings. These scans along with historic pictures and elevation drawings  have allowed for a complete 3D computer model of the exterior of the building to be created including the missing platform canopy. 

 July 2021

Historic Structures Report

SCHS has chosen Kubala Washatko Architects to prepare the historic structure report (HSR) for the Baraboo Depot for a cost of $108,000. A competitive bidding process was used to choose a firm to complete the HSR. The historic structure report will provide a valuable foundation for the restoration of the depot by providing documentary, graphic, and physical information about the depot's history and existing condition while also addressing goals for its reuse. The report will include schematic programming and design in consultation with SCHS. To assist the Sauk County Historic Society in managing the cost of the HSR, Sauk County applied for a matching WEDC grant in the Society’s name for $50,000, which was granted to the county in June, 2021. Those grant dollars plus a gift from an anonymous donor were used to cover the full cost of the report.

Below is the timetable for completion of the historic structures report. Below the timetable are logos of the many companies that will contribute their expertise in completing the report along with the names and a bit of information about the lead project managers.

April 13, 2021

National Register Process Underway

The process of listing the Baraboo Depot and Division Headquarters building on the National Register of Historic Places is underway. The building was deemed potentially eligible for the Register several years ago when a preliminary questionnaire was submitted to the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). It was determined that the building could qualify for the National Register of Historic Places due to its importance to transportation history and its uniqueness as a combination depot and division headquarters building.

The nomination is being coordinated by the Division of Historic Preservation at the Wisconsin Historical Society and being funded through the Fuldner Heritage Fund. The endowed fund was started with a generous gift from the Jeffris Family Foundation to the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2011 and was named in honor of Henry Fuldner, who devoted himself to the preservation of significant Wisconsin properties and served on the Jeffris Family Foundation board for thirty years. 

One purpose of the fund is to recognize Wisconsin heritage by funding the preparation of National Register nominations in the state.  The National Register is the nation’s official list of places significant in American history and culture.  Listing of the Baraboo Depot will make the property eligible for historic preservation income tax credit programs for rehabilitation and other funding. Beth Miller of Madison has been engaged by WHS to write the nomination for the Baraboo Depot. Miller has written over 100 nominations to the National Register since 1984 and in 2008 wrote the successful nomination for the Chicago & North Western Railroad Depot in West Bend, Wisconsin.

December 2020 - A crew from Hasheider Roofing of Prairie du Sac has been hard at work installing a rubber membrane over the entire roof of the depot. This work will protect the building until future repair work can be done. Inside, the first rays of light are reaching rooms that have been dark for over 50 years. The depot originally had two waiting rooms, one for men and one for women. In later years as passenger service decreased only the men’s waiting room was used for passengers. The first floor ceilings are sixteen feet high and the waiting rooms were originally graced with eleven foot high arched windows. When these spaces are restored they will provide space for community events, historical presentations, and meetings.

After the building is weatherized the project moves into the planning phase for future full-scale restoration. A Historic Structures Report will be commissioned from an architectural firm. This detailed planning report will document the history of the building and changes made, assess the current condition of the building for restoration, and provide a guide for moving forward. If you would like to donate to this part of the project click here. 

November 24, 2020 It has been one month since the Society took ownership of the historic Baraboo Depot & Division Headquarters building.  Activity has centered around getting the building ready for a temporary rubber roof and opening the building up to increase ventilation and natural lighting. Recently three second floor window openings which had been closed up with cement blocks were opened up by Jerry Exterovich. These windows were in the chief clerk’s office as shown in the historic photo. Nothing in the depot is small. Each window on the second floor was four feet wide and six feet tall. Originally there were seventy-seven windows providing abundant natural light to the second floor division offices. Until new windows are installed window opening will be used for louvered vents and temporary “windows” made of clear vinyl. 

Thank You! Baraboo Depot Restoration Donors