By Tammy Kilby
tkilby@
morrismultimedia.com
DARLINGTON — The Darlington Depot has stood in place on South Washington Street, for the past 136 years, since 1889. It remains as a tribute to those who built and operated the railroad, up until its last run in the 1980s. Alongside the Darlington Depot stands the Caboose which was purchased in 2023, and placed on the original train tracks in December of that year.
Now a new book has been released which documents the historical accounts of the most sought after attraction in the Darlington and Lafayette County area. “The Darlington Depot and Caboose: Historical Preservation and Reservation” is the historical documentation from author Barb Nemec, the current Museum Manager and Past President of the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society.
“I’ve always enjoyed history, especially American History,” said Nemec. “Genealogy places your family within history and makes it more exciting. ”
Saturday, November 29 is Shop Small Saturday. The book, “The Darlington Depot and Caboose: Historical Preservation and Reservation” will be on sale, along with caboose cookie cutters, and other historical books, photos, and merchandise. The Darlington Depot engraved brick patio project forms will also be available. The location of the LCHGS booth will be located in the historic Driver Opera House at the Creative Destinations location, 242 Main Street, Darlington.
“The work that we do at LCHGS involves research into old records like a detective trying to understand why things are the way they are. We are answering questions and we want to ‘get it right,’” Nemec said. “Staff at the Museum and Depot changes over the years, so in order to preserve what we learned, and how it informed our decisions, it needed to be written down. The book is a combination of Q&A for staff to be ready for visitors, history of the Depot and Caboose in one volume, visitors’ keepsake from a visit to the Depot and Caboose, advice to others interested in restoring rail cars, report on the project for our funding sources, and celebration/recognition of the many that worked preserve and restore our railroad history.”
The 82-page spiral bound book walks readers through history, giving accurate accounts of upgrades and events as they took place. Colorful pictures make this new book one that will keep even the littlest minds curious. Proceeds from sale of the book will fund continuing maintenance and additions to the Depot and Caboose.
“It was a natural thing for us to look at the railroad tracks beside the Depot and wish we could put a rail car on them,” she said. “But when the idea became reality we needed to learn all about railroad cabooses, including the railway companies that operated here, and the equipment that they used. Anyone who spends time at the Depot wonders what it was like with trains rolling by, and we had tracks. Also, we knew that Lafayette County Historical Society had attempted (but failed) to put a car on the tracks years ago. We wanted to make that long time dream come true.”
In 2006, ownership of the depot was transferred to the Lafayette County Historical Society, now named the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society. Getting updated, repainted, and restored, the Darlington Depot has been a well-preserved treasure to the entire community.
“The research involved many sources including books, three different Railroad Historical Societies, and the Milwaukee Public Library’s Architectural Archives, and Milwaukee Road Archives,” Nemec said. “We learned that the history of cabooses is complicated by the changes in the railroad. And our restoration was complicated by using a Missouri Pacific caboose to represent the Milwaukee Road. Visitors, especially retired railroad workers, gave us clues and had questions.”
In October 2023, the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society purchased the Darlington caboose. It was transported in December of that year, onto the tracks which remain beside Darlington Depot. Restoration of the caboose began in Spring of 2024, and the familiar orange and black colors of Milwaukee Road were painted on the structure in June of 2024.
“My family has enjoyed updates on the Depot and Caboose as the work progressed,” Nemec said. “One of my granddaughters is pictured in the partially completed cupola seats. All of my grandchildren have their names on bricks in the engraved brick patio beside the caboose.”
Several projects are underway through the efforts of the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society.
“At the Museum there is always something to learn, or a donated treasure to display so visitors can enjoy it,” Nemec said. “We’re currently re-arranging things to make space for a lovely collection of vintage dishes recently donated.”
In addition to the new book, the sale of the engraved bricks for the Darlington Depot brick patio continue to be a popular idea. The ‘set in stone’ fundraiser gathers necessary funds which enhance the look and experience that the Darlington Depot brings.
