Minot`s Amtrak Depot to be Fully Restored
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| 6/30/2009 |
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| A former eyesore is now a beautiful glimpse into history, at least on the outside. The exterior renovation of Minot`s Amtrak Depot was finished last year. The interior restoration was put on the back burner because of a lack of funds. Now, the interior can finally be restored, thanks to federal stimulus money. After it was completed in 1905, Minot`s train depot was the gateway to the city. For most visitors, this was their first impression of the town. Today, more than 100 thousand people still travel through Minot on Amtrak. "This is the only 20 minute stop on Amtrak in the whole state so almost everybody gets off here to stretch their legs," says Dennis Lutz, Chairman of the Amtrak Restoration Committee. Until last year, a run down, stucco, 60`s style building was what greeted passengers. The exterior was renovated last year with money from the city. Now, thanks to $400,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the interior work will begin. "We are going to modernize it and yet keep that same feel of a historic 1905 building which is fantastic for Minot with its train history," says Lutz. Dennis Lutz has been working on renovation plans for the depot for nearly 10 years. He says the stimulus money will help complete the interior, which includes three major projects. "The first one is the bathrooms. They need to be handicap accessible," says Lutz. The lobby will be enlarged by using office space located on the east side of the building. And the interior will be made to look like the depot did one hundred years ago. That includes a pressed tin ceiling, wainscoting on the walls, and new seating. "We are not sure what we are going to do with seating. Those old, hard, classic benches were not so comfortable," says Lutz. The work will begin this winter and is expected to be completed this spring. After nearly a decade on the project, Lutz believes seeing it finished is a tribute not only to Minot, but also to our rich railroad history. The interior won`t look exactly like it did in 1905. Back then there were two waiting areas, one room for men, and a separate room for women and children. The Minot City Council Finance and Improvements Committee approved the project on June 30th. |
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