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Friday, January 21, 2011

Humboldt Depot

Humboldt, MN Great Northern depot looking SW (June 1969)
Source:  Great Northern Railway Historical Society 
I can't say I remember the depot in Humboldt that well, although it obviously still existed in my lifetime.  Looking at this photograph now brings back some recollection.

I see it was two-stories in the main part of the building, which leads me to believe it had living quarters over the offices for the depot agent, (and his family, if he had one.)  The attached single-storey portion is probably the freight office.

I did a little digging online and found that one of the those families were the Merck's.
Margaret (Jerome) Merck, visiting husband Tony in the Humboldt Depot...
Source:  Merck Family website
Anthony "Tony" spent his entire adult life employed by the Great Northern Railway at various locations in the Red River Valley area of North Dakota and Minnesota which included Humboldt, Minnesota... - Anthony Merck, Red River Valley website.

 Thanks to William Ash for the heads-up on this photograph.

4 comments:

  1. Ed Merck2:34 PM

    For most folks this dilapidated old building has no historic memories. But for me, it does. This was my birthplace. My Dad was a long-time depot agent at Humboldt and housed his family in those upstairs living quarters during his early years in Humboldt. It was there that I was born in 1931, as were two other brothers who came earlier. Being born at home was not unusual in those days, but I expect that being born in a depot may seem a bit strange to some. Shortly after I was born we moved to a house two doors West of the depot because our family was larger.

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    1. Anonymous11:43 AM

      Ed,
      Thank you for sharing. My father Harry Swiontek was also a depot agent in Humboldt. I believe he was the agent from 1965 to 1970 when we then moved to Climax, MN. Steve Swiontek, Devils Lake, ND
      swiontek@stellarnet.com

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  2. Anonymous11:46 AM

    I believe that my Grandfather Oliver Clow may have been the depot agent there in the early 1900's. Can someone verify this? I would so appreciate it.

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    1. Trishymouse1:00 PM

      May I ask your name? I will post your question on the St. Vincent Memories Facebook page, and see if anyone there may know. If you are on Facebook, you are welcome to join! The page is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/StVincentMemories/

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