Village of Gaines / Gaines Depot
N 42° 52.368 W 083° 54.749
17T E 262111 N 4750805
Located in front of Gaines Station Library. 103 W Walker St, Gaines, MI 48436
Waymark Code: WMW7VC
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 07/21/2017
Views: 5
Between 1855 and 1858 the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway built a rail line from Detroit to Grand Haven. In 1856 Gaines Station was established as a rail stop and post office. In 1959 Henry Walker platted the town, aligning the streets with the railroad. The town soon became a local shipping hub with people, mail, goods arriving on daily trains. Departing trains carried such local good as wheat, oats, barrel staves, lumber, and broom handles. The Village of Gaines was incorporated in 1875.
According to early Genesee County histories, the first building in Gaines was a wood-frame railroad depot. It was replaced by this brick depot in 1881. The station closed when rail service ended in the 1950's. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Genesee Avenue/Walker Street Historic District in 1983. It deteriorated over the years. In 1891 concerned citizens formed Gaines Station, inc. to save the depot. Rehabiliation work lasted from 1992 to 1997. In 1998 the building reopened as a branch of Genesee County Public Library.
Parking nearby?: yes
D/T ratings: 
Registered Site #: ls2289
Historical Date: Not listed
Historical Name: Not listed
Description: Not listed
website: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:Take a photo of your GPS at the marker. We'd prefer a photo of you with your GPS, but we realize that sometimes that's just not possible or preferable.
Also include a bit about your visit to the marker.
NEW: Instructions for logging Missing Marker Visits.
If the Marker is missing, but still listed here, you must provide a photo of you at the actual item historically honored. (This should be the waymark's "default" image). Indicate in your log that you took your photo at the Historical Location instead of the marker, because the marker was missing. Please also still include a bit about your visit to the site.