POLK COUNTY

EXISTING STATIONS
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Station Name	Original Railroad	Current Location	Type	Date Built	Current Use	Track Status	Building Material	More Info
Dugdale?		Vance Avenue South (CR-34) (GPS: 47.665702, -96.011043)	C	????	Residence	None	Wood
eldred		On abandoned farm at SW corner of Polk County 16 and County Highway 45 just 1/2 mile NW of Eldred. (GPS: 47.687288, -96.785037)	C	1905	Storage	None	Wood
Erskine		Corner of US-2 and Vance Avenue (CR-34) (GPS: 47.668558, -96.008751)	P	1890	Rairoad	In Use	Wood
euclid		On an abandoned farm site about 6 miles east of town on CR-19, on north side in group of trees.	C	????	Vacant	None	Wood
Gully		West side of Dakota Street just south of 1st Avenue (GPS: 47.467419,-94.888197)	C	????	Residence	None	Wood
lengby		North side of old MN 8, about 1/2 mile west of MN-4. (GPS: 47.520708,-95.6461140)	C	1898	Residence	None	Wood
Tilden Junction	AND	536 South Vance in Erskine. (GPS: 47.662432,-96.017528)	C	1905	Residence	None	Wood
winger		East side of US-59 at Wisconsin Street (GPS: 47.537196,-95.981546)	C	1904	Vacant	In Use	Wood
STATIONS OF THE PAST
Station Name	Original Railroad	Notes
Angus		This station was between 2nd and 3rd Streets. The 1915 GN Valuation Record for 1915 lists a 30'x48' station at this location.
Beltrami (Edna)		This station was on Pacific Avenue between 5th and 6th. According to the 1915 GN Vaulation Record, a new station was built here in 1903 and measured 30'x60'.
Benoit		This station was named after Fred Benoit who owned the land that the station was on. Benoit was also the postmaster at Lawton, one mile to the north. About 1.5 miles NW of Benoit was a spur that branched to the north to a gravel pit. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, there was only a 12'x94' platform and station sign here as of that year.
Buffington (Corrigan Farm)		This village, which no longer exists, was in section 5, Fanny Township, and section 32 of Euclid Township. As of 1917, there was only a 864 square foot platform that was built that same year.
Burwell		According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, there was only an 8'x43' platform and station sign here as of that year.
Carthage (Crowell)		This station was in section 33 of Sullivan Township, just to the east of Sullivan Siding. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1245 square feet which was built in 1917. There was also a section house and tool house here.
Climax		This station's original location was on US 75 (Main Avenue) between Broadway and 1st Street North. The town was formerly known as Meos. It was moved to a farm (later abandoned) along the river north of the west end of County Highway 51 at 47.577912,-96.852996. It was torn down when the land was cleared in 2014. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station was built in 1896 and measured 30'x60'.
Crookston		This was the first St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba RR station in Crookston at the west end of 2nd Street with the photo being dated from 1874.
Crookston		The 1888 and 1890 Sanborn maps shows the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba RR passenger station on the northern corner of Market and Robert Streets at GPS: 47.774823, -96.608860 on the SE side of the tracks. The station appears to be wood frame and 1.5 stories. A freight station was on the southern corner of 2nd and Market Streets at GPS: 47.774823, -96.608860. The passenger and freight stations were seperate buildings with a restaurant building between them.
Crookston		The 1896 Sanborn map shows the old stations gone and replaced with a new passenger station on Market more or less centered on 2nd Street at GPS: 47.775486, -96.608366 on the SE side of the tracks. The new freight house is shown on the SE side of the tracks between Fletcher and Robert Streets at GPS: 47.774175, -96.609547.
Crookston		A new long passenger/freight station complex was built in 1900 along Market Street at 2nd Street. The two building appear to have been connected by a canopy in the middle. The previous freight station that was south of Robert Street is shown as a farm machinery warehouse in 1900, perhaps having been sold my the railroad when the new station was constructed. (That freight station survived until at least 1922 as it still appears on maps from that year as a grocery warehouse.) A newspaper article from 1905 announcing the move of the GN Northern Division headquarters from Grand Forks to Crookston said that the station there at the time was a one-story building that would have a second story added for offices. However it appears from the map of the new station that an entirely new brick station was built in 1906 (see below).
Crookston		According to the GN Valuation Records of 1915, new brick passenger and freight stations were built in 1906 on Market Street just North of West Robert Street (GPS: 47.775449, -96.608399). The passenger station measured 36'x156' and the freight station measured 36'x190'. These stations were connected with the passenger section close to 2nd Street and the freight section closer to Robert Street.
Crookston (North Crookston)		In 1962 the GN moved passenger opertations for Crookston to the North Crookston station while the Crookston station handled the freight operations. This switch can be found in GN's 1963 "Official List List of Officers, Stations & Agents" manual.
Crookston		This station was at the east end of 4th Street, just past Elm Street at GPS: 47.775334, -96.600893. According to the NP Valuation Records of 1917, the station was built in 1896 and measured 24'x153'.
Crookston Junction (Redland) (CArman)		This station was in the SW corner of Crookston. This 20 x 64 2-story wood structure was built in 1887. The station was originally named Carman, a name still used as a neighborhood of Crookston and the name of a school in the area. The station was renamed on March 29, 1907, to Redland; the station (not the depot) was abandoned in May 1928. The depot itself was located on the east side of the tracks centered on what is now 5^th Avenue South at GPS: 47.760547, -96.620037 (5th Avenue South was originally 1^st Avenue North). The station is shown on the 1896 Sanborn map, page 8. That source indicates the depot was already vacant at the time. The actual junction was about 0.17 miles south of the depot.
Cummings Spur		This station was in Huntsville Township, in the NE corner of Section 14. This would be where CR-226 crosses the old grade just east of the Grand Marais River. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 984 square feet which was built in 1911.
Davidson (Mc Donald)		According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, the station here was a comverted boxcar body that was installed in 1913. Some sources list McDonald and Davidson as the same station, however, according to the 1902 Polk County map, the McDonald station was less than a mile southeast of Davidson on the property of D.H. McDonald. On the 1902 map, the McDonald and Davidson depots were shown at opposite ends of the same siding. This is not to be confused by the "Davidson" name that was also used for the Omera station.
Dugdale (Tilden) (Albert)		This station was at the north end of Main Street in Dugdale, but this town essentially does not exist anymore. The town was also previously known as Albert. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station here was built in 1902 and measured only 8'x12'. The name was changed from Tilden to Dugdale in November 1903. Not to be confused with Tilden Junction (just west of Dugdale) or Tilden on the Northern Pacific (which was north of Tilden Junction)
East Grand Forks		An early St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba station was at the south end of Pillsbury Street (now 3rd Street) at approximately GPS: 47.926476, -97.015123. This station is shown on the 1892 and 1897 Sanborn maps.
East Grand Forks		According to the 1915 GN Valuation Records A new station was built here in 1915 that measured 30'x101'. This station was on the east side of Central Avenue at 4th Street on the north side of the tracks at GPS: 47.927559, -97.019597.
East Grand Forks		The early station (or stations) here was NE of 4th Street.
East Grand Forks		This station, was on the SW side of 4th Street NW at approximately GPS: 47.930052, -97.025613. According to the 1917 NP Valuation Records, it was a two-story frame structure built in 1907 measuring 25'x67'. The station also had a basement.
East Grand Forks		There was a freight station off Demers (before it was re-routed) near 6th Avenue at approximately GPS: 47.931332, -97.023627. According to the 1917 NP Valuation Records, it was built in 1905 and measured 24'x123'.
East Grand Forks		This station was approximately where the Eagles Lodge is today at 227 10th St NW. This area was rearranged in the early 2000's after major flood damage in 1997.
Erskine		According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, a new station measuring 24'x60' was built here in 1907.
Erskine		The Soo Line operated in this town on the line between Thief River Falls and Detroit Lakes and had interchange service here with the Great Northern. The Soo line also had an interlocking tower at the 60 degree diamond crossing just east of Erskine until the early 1960s.
fertile		This station predated the one listed below. This station was on Northern Pacific Street between Washington and Lincoln Streets. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, this station was built in 1887 and measured 16'x115'.
Fertile
Fisher		This station was near the corner of Kittson Street and 4th Street North. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, a the station was built here in 1879 and measured 21'x60'.
Fosston		This station was near the intersection of 2nd Street SE and Hillestad Avenue. It was on the north side of the tracks toward 1st Avenue. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station was built in 1888 and remodeled in 1904. It measured 24'x114' and there were living quarters above the depot.
Freeman Station		According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1504 square feet which was built in 1912.
Girard		According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, there was only a platform and station sign here. The platform was built in 1899 and measured 12'x112'.
Greenview (Russia)		This station, shown on the 1905 map, was in Section 19 of Russia Township. The name of the station was changed from "Russia" to "Greenview" in May 1919.
Harold (Marin)		Harold is located in section 25 of Fairfax Township. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a 1248 square foot wooden platform here that was built in 1917. This station was called "Marin" prior to 1905.
Hixon		According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, there was only a platform and station sign here. The platform was built in 1903 and measured 12'x138'.
Hixon		According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here then that mesured 14'x77'. The GN abandoned this station in November 1959.
Hunt		This station was located near what is now the entrance to Riverbend Golf Club off US2/MN220. The land that the golf club is on today was owned by Mrs. M. Hunt in the early 1900s. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, there was only a platform and station sign here. The platform was built in 1900 and measured 12'x146'. It was abandoned as a station by the GN in April 1939.
Kankel		This station was in Section 6 of Onstad Township. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, this station was a boxcar body that was installed in 1915.
Key West (Keystone Jct.)		The station was on the east side of 340th Avenue. It was built in 1902 and measured 16'x23'. Other names used for this station were "Backersville" and "Buffington.""
Kittson		According to the 1915 GN Vaulation Record, a cinder platform and station sign was installed here in 1905. There was also a wooden loading platform that was built in 1899. The station was abandoned by the GN in December 1950.
Kohler		A very old station that was gone by the turn of the century (1900), this was located in Belgium Township in Section 32.
Lees (Leeston)		This station was between Fertile and Tilden.
Mallory		The depot was at the corner of Coulter and Main Streets across the street from old School #11. In 1902, the town had a post office, town hall, two grain elevators and a church. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, a news station was built in 1900 and measured 20'x64'.
Mc Donald Station		This station was less than a mile southeast of Davidson on the property of D.H. McDonald. The McDonald and Davidson depots were at opposite ends of the same siding (according to the 1902 Polk County map).
Mc Intosh		This station was on the west side of SW Cleveland Avenue. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station was built in 1890 and was remodeled/expanded in 1900 and 1904. The station measured 24'x127'. The photo may predate some of the improvements.
Melvin (Holmes)		Although the village was/is called Melvin, the station was known as Holmes and was a bit east of the Melvin post office and store. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, this station was two side-by-side boxcars that were installed in 1914.
Mentor		This station was on the SW corner of 3rd Street North and Lincoln Avenue. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station measured 24'x60'.
Nielsville (Neilsville)		This station was along US 75 between 2nd and 3rd Streets. It was on the east side of the tracks. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station was built in 1900 and measured 24'x60'.
Noyes Junction
Omera (Davidson) (Keystone Farm)		According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1258 square feet. Omera/Davidson no longer exists. It was midway between Key West and Sherack in Keystone Township. Not to be confused with the Davidson that was on the NP line between Crookston and Carthage Junction that was also in Polk County.
Redland (Carman)		The name was changed from Carman to Redland in 1907. It was abandoned as a station by the GN in May 1928.
Roon (Roan)		The 1915 GN Valuation Record for 1915 lists only a cinder platform and station sign at this location. The name change from Roan to Roon came about in 1932.
Ross		This station was in section 19 of Lowell Township. It was abandoned by the GN in May 1957.
Sherack		This was the end of the "Sherack Spur" line that ran north from Key West. According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1680 square feet.
Shirley (Wakeman)		This station was on Pacific Avenue between 5th and 6th. Although there was a 13-block town site platted here, it never developed much beyond a couple buildings. The 1915 GN Valuation Record for 1915 lists only a 12'x103' platform and station sign for this location.
Sprague		This station was about three miles NW of Fisher. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, there was only a platform and station sign here. The platform was built in 1900 and measured 12'x150'. This station was abandoned by the GN in December 1942.
Sullivan Siding		This station was just east of East Grand Forks near where Gateway Drive NE crosses 10th Street NE (section 32 of Sullivan Township). According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1254 square feet.
Tilden		When there was a little town here, the station was on Broadway at Tilden Street. According to the 1902 map, there wasn't much here aside from the railroad station. This was located in Section 27 of Tilden Township, just a bit north of Tilden Junction.
Trail		The last agent here bought the station and dismantled it using the wood for a garage.
Vannet (Merrills)		This was in Section 3 of Nesbit Township and may have been an earlier name of Key West (also in Section 3). According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1248 square feet which was built in 1913.
Walkerton (Walker Siding)		This station was on the north side of the tracks on the southern border of Section 32 of Keystone Township (the northern border of Section 5 of Nesbit Township). According to the 1917 NP Vaulation Records, there was only a wood platform here that was 1272 square feet.
Wilds		Listed as a early GN station, this location is unknown.
1898 POLK COUNTY RAILROAD MAP

Notes About Existing Stations... Dugdale (Great Northern?) - I recieved an email in 2013 from a woman who claimed this is the original station from Dugdale. Needs confirmation. It certainly appears to be a station from somewhere. Property records list a build date of 1902 (which could be when it was moved there). Eldred (Great Northern) - This station was originally on Great Northern Avenue just east of Polk (CR-16). According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station was built in 1905 and measured 30'x48'. Erskine (Great Northern) - The portion of the station still standing, which is covered in metal sheet, is the original freight room of the station that was built in 1890. Euclid (Great Northern) - This station was originally on US 75 at 5th Street. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, the station measured 30'x60'. No build date was given in those records. Lengby (Great Northern) - This station was originally on the east side of Main Avenue (formerly Till Avenue) on the north side of the tracks. It has since been move a half mile west, but still along the tracks, and is now used as a private residence. Tilden Junction (NP & GN) - The agents bay only has one side of glass, but there were two sets of windows on the agents bay at right angles, one for the NP and one for the GN. In the remodeling, the agents bay became part of the kitchen and one set of windows was removed. This was on the NP's Red Lake Falls Branch. This station was south of the village near the crossing of the GN/NP in Section 22 of Tilden Township. According to the 1915 GN Valutation Records, this station measured 24'x71' and ownership was split 50/50 between the GN and NP. According to the NP Valuation Records of 1917, the station was built in 1905. The station at Tilden Junction was famous for having two women as live-in station agents/employees in the late 1940s/early 1950s.