Bancroft Depot
Station Master Office
The depot was originally located in Bancroft, Wisconsin on the Wisconsin Central Railway later becoming part of the Soo Line. The original depot was built in 1898 but may have been destroyed by fire. According to the Portage County Historical Society, a news clip from "The Wisconsin Valley Leader", Grand Rapids, Wi. (later to be known as Wisconsin Rapids) dated May 22, 1902, states: "During the electrical and rainstorm on Saturday night, the railroad depots at Bancroft, Coloma Station and Westfield on the Portage Branch of the Wisconsin Central railroad were struck by lightning and totally destroyed." If this is true, it may account for the inability to confirm a date for the construction of the current depot. The earliest dated photo is 1908.
Bancroft was an important stop on the “P Line”, the Soo Line’s branch extension from Portage to Point (Stevens Point). The Portage line continued in operation through World War II and on Nov. 9, 1945, all stations were closed; in 1946 the tracks were removed.
The Depot has been moved to Plover's Heritage Park. The exterior of the building and the 1st floor have been restored to its 1920’s look by the Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders, LTD. This is the only remaining example of the 6 depots built in this style. This image of the Station Master's Office was obtained looking through an exterior window.
