The Jenkins Depot
The Jenkins depot was built when the Brainerd and Northern Minnesota Railroad tracks were laid through town in 1895. The depot was located on the West side of the tracks on the North side of County 115. A water tower was also built to provide water for the railroads steam engines.
The building was a simple wood framed building with clap-board siding. The depot contained the town’s telegraph office and served as the railroad’s local freight and passenger office. The trains also delivered the mail and parcel post to the depot where they were delivered to the Post Office for distribution.
The Depot Agent was a job that required many duties. He served as the telegraph operator, handled the freight and passengers. He scheduled outgoing freight, notified customers when incoming freight arrived, sold passenger tickets as well as any other duties as needed. Arthur Thompson, Mr. Gaardemo and others all served as Depot Agents.
In 1963 the railroad discontinued all passenger service in Jenkins. Shortly afterward the depot was bought by the Jenkins Grange. The building was moved to the East side of Jenkins to the Grange property on the South side of 115 near where Andy Stiller Sr. lives. The old depot served as the Grange Hall until the Grange was dissolved in the late 60’s or early 70’s.
After the Grange was dissolved, the Village of Jenkins bought the building in 1972. The old depot building was again moved to the West side of town by the old School where it was reborn as the Jenkins Village Hall. The building has been remodeled a couple of times and an addition has recently been added on to house the city clerk’s office and indoor bathrooms.
The water tower provided much needed water for the Railroads steam engines until diesel locomotives replaced them. With the discontinuance of the steam locomotives, the water tower was no longer needed. Soon afterwards the tower was disassembled and removed. From the day it was built until the day it was torn down, the tower had been maintained and taken care of by Martin Satre.