Donors are all aboard with depot project

The historic Cedarburg Depot at Pioneer Village in the Town of Saukville is being restored to its prime thanks to donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. 

The Ozaukee County Historical Society began fundraising to restore the 1907 station in March 2020 and began work on the station in May after reaching its monetary goal. 

The first phase of the renovation lasted about eight weeks. 

Work includes new paint on the inside and outside, the replacement of damaged wood paneling and construction of a new basement to serve as a foundation. 

Local contractor Doug Peterson Painting LLC of Grafton was hired to strip off the old paint, grind, sand, and prime the exterior of the building. Two coats of the new colors were applied to provide a fresh look. 

An Americans with Disabilities Act accessible ramp and new stairs leading up to the building were also installed, allowing ADA access to the building for the first time. 

Mary Ann Velnetske, the project coordinator and fundraiser for the project, has been responsible for raising funds and arranging volunteer help for the restoration.

For the second phase of the restoration project, portions of the interior will be restored in accordance with a 1915 blueprint of the original design. In addition to refurbishing the flooring and repainting the interior, the original passenger benches of the station will be refurbished. 

Much of the interior painting has already been completed, with walls and trim updated with the original colors of the station, fawn brown, cream and black. 

“It’s really pretty classy looking,” Velnetske said. 

New exhibitions will also be created within the refurbished station which will provide historical information on the structure. 

Restoration and exhibit work is expected to be completed by this fall.  

“It’s a labor of love and it’s really coming together,” Velnetske said. 

  Reid Van Sluys, a local railroad historian, has assisted with the renovation and will help select artifacts which will be used in exhibits throughout the station. 

Pioneer Village is near Hawthorne Hills Golf Course on Highway I in the Town of Saukville.

The station was built on July 24, 1907 in Cedarburg, replacing the dilapidated former station that was dedicated on Jan. 2, 1871. 

The station was frequently used by passenger trains until Dec. 1950 when the railroad it neighbored switched to freight trains, eliminating the need for the station other than as a shipping and delivery point. 

By 1982, the station was in a state of disrepair. On Sept. 21, 1982, the Ozaukee County Historical Society Board of Directors voted to rescue the building.

The following year the station was moved to Pioneer Village for restoration. 

Today the station is visited by thousands each year, with 5,856 touring the village in 2019. 

Each August, the station platform sets the stage for “Bluegrass at the Village,” one of the largest bluegrass festivals in the area.

Until enough funds were raised for major repairs, the Historical Society made minor patches and repairs, but could do little about the damaged boards, lighting improvements and paint job the station needed. 

Donors to the project include the Greater Cedarburg Foundation, Cedarburg Landmark Preservation Society, Robert and Maureen Sievers Charitable Gift Fund, Antiquarian Society of Wisconsin, Zaun Memorial Foundation, Ozaukee Bank’s Gift to the Future, and Port Washington State Bank. 

“Just to say thank you isn’t enough for all they’ve done,” Velnetske said. 

Donations are still being accepted for the project. See www.ochs.co.ozaukee.wi.us/endowments.