Current and former Northfielders relate stories about the 1888 Milwaukee Road Depot and the role it played in the lives of everyday townspeople and college students.
TALES OF THE NORTHFIELD HISTORIC DEPOT
Recorded By KYMN Radio from inside the Northfield Historic Depot on July 15, 2025, Alice Thomas shares a set of stories about the depot and its connection to Northfield through the lens of Cows, Colleges, and Community.
ALAN ALBERG
Alan Alberg (b. 1926) grew up in St. Paul, but his first encounter with the depot and Northfield trains was as a passenger traveling by train for his military service. He later returned in 1946 as a student at St. Olaf College where he met his wife. Alan provides his reflections about the railroad as a student and his insights about the role of the railroad in local businesses and on the proposed site for the depot.
College after World War II
Alan talks about going to college after World War II, students at the depot, and how he ended up attending St. Olaf College.
Horses and the Railroad Tracks
Alan tells how his team of horses barely reacted to the steam whistle at the local creamery, but were afraid of crossing the railroad tracks.
Living along the Track
Alan talks about living on a farm along the railroad tracks when he was a student. Before St. Olaf College brought the property, the farm’s former owner got train service almost to his doorstep.
Remembering the City’s Heritage
Alan talks about how the 2nd and 5th street bridges framed the north and south side of Northfield in the early days. Much of the town could be seen from site on the Q-block here the 1888 depot will be moved, serving as a fitting homage to the city’s heritage.
Traveling Salesmen
Alan describes how traveling salesmen would come to town by train to show their wares to local merchants by setting up in showrooms in the local hotel, which later became now known as the Archer House.
RICHARD HEIBEL
Richard (Dick) Heibel (b. 1929) in the Northfield Hospital on then Water Street and has spent all but a few years of his life in Northfield. His vivid memories of the trains and depot activity are based on his childhood and adult proximity to the track. Dick grew up on St. Olaf Avenue and spent time in his father’s harness shop on the west side of town when he was a child and in his own upholstery shop in the same building after his military service in 1949. His memories reflect a broad scope of railroad activity related to those living and conducting business in Northfield.
Squatters on Railroad Land
Dick talks about the squatters on the railroad land in Northfield, Minnesota, when he was growing up on St. Olaf Avenue.
Streamliners
Dick talks about when the Rock Island Rocket and the Milwaukee Road passenger streamliners (the predecessor to the bullet train) came to Northfield and how the internal combustion diesel engines roared instead of chugged link the coal-powered steam engines.
CORRINE HEIBERG
Corrine Heiberg (b. 1934 d. 2017) was a long-time resident of Northfield. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated from the University of Minnesota.
Train Party
Corrine talks about how her family arranged a birthday “train party” in 1961 for their sons. Her family and some friends travelled by from Northfield to Faribault by train on one of the last passenger trains out of Northfield. For some of their friends, it was their first experience on a train.
ELVIN HEIBERG
Elvin Heiberg (b. 1933 d. 2022) has been a long-time resident of Northfield. He grew up in Northfield where his father was a dentist. He attended St. Olaf College and obtained his B.S. and D.D.S. from the University of Minnesota. Elvin served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1960, was stationed in Germany, and returned to Northfield to practice dentistry in a partnership with his father.
Bringing a Casket Home for Burial
In 1951, Elvin’s grandmother died staying with her daughter in New York State. That that time, it was necessary for another person to accompany the casket as it was transported by train. The Rock Island Rocket made a special stop in Northfield to drop off Elvin’s aunt and his grandmother’s casket.
First Train Ride
Elvin fondly remembers his first train ride from Northfield to Minneapolis and back again.
Getting Around Before Cars
Elvin talks about how his father traveled to work and graduate school using trains in the time before most people owned their own car.
National Guard Departure
In 1950, the Northfield National Guard was activated. Elvin marched in his high school band from the high school to the train depot to give the troops a send off. The band played until the train arrived and departed.
Whistlestop by President Taft
When Elvin’s mother was 14 years old, President Taft made a whistle stop at the Northfield depot. His mother was selected to give a bouquet of roses to the president.
BRYNHILD ROWBERG
Brynhild (Brynnie) Rowberg (b. 1917 d. 2019) grew up in Northfield on Nevada Street, and her father was editor of the Northfield Independent Newspaper. After attending Northfield public schools and St. Olaf College, she worked for 30 years in the U.S. Foreign Service and was stationed in Washington, D.C., and several foreign countries. After retirement in 1978, she returned to Northfield. Her stories reflect her extensive knowledge of Northfield history and her early years in Northfield that were rich with experiences with the Northfield railroad depot, trains, personnel, and related events. She died in 2019.
Departing for War
The depot and trains played a role in the departure of soldiers. Brynhild talks about her recollections from World War II and the deep emotions that ran during that time.
Hobos during the Great Depression
The experience of the hobos, unemployed men during the Great Depression, was in stark contrast to the elegance of the train dining car Brynhild remembers from her childhood.
The Man with the Broom
Before cars were common, the town relied on horses, and streets and the area around the depot were kept tidy by man with a broom. Brynhild tells a humorous story about his encounter with a visitor who had come to speak at Carleton College.
The Railroad as a Mixed Blessing
Farmers had mixed feelings for the railroads which took their land, but also helped transport their crops to market. Brynhild’s grandfather and his neighbor took the railroad to court because their didn’t think the railroad had fairly compensated them for their land.
Riding the Dan Patch Line
The Dan Patch Rail line stretched from Minneapolis to Northfield. Brynhild recalls the enjoyment and convenience of riding the Dan Patch to get to downtown Minneapolis or to travel to Northfield.
The Steam Engine
The steam engine symbolized mechanical power during the 1920s and 1930s. Brynhild talks about the sight and sounds of the engine and its stark contrast with travel by ox cart in her grandfather’s day.
Student Arrivals and Departures
Brynhild talks about St. Olaf and Carleton students arriving and departing by train at the depot during the 1930s and how they would fill the station to overflowing.
The Train Dining Car
What was the train dining car like during Prohibition? A glamorous apparition, says Brynhild, who recalls watching them as they passed through Northfield when she was a child.
ROBERT WILL
Robert (Bob) Will first (b. 1928 d. 2023) came to Northfield to attend Carleton College in 1946 on the G.I Bill. After attending graduate school, he returned to Northfield in 1957 to teach at Carleton, retiring in 1993. His trip to Northfield to enter college was the first of many that used the railroad between his home in Wisconsin and Northfield. His stories reflect his interest in history and his use of the Northfield railroad depot and train during his student days at Carleton.
Carleton College Arrivals and Departures
Bob talks about being a student traveling to and from Carleton College by train. He also identifies as new use for suitcases.
College Students and Laundry Boxes
Before there were washers and dryers in college dorms, students sent their dirty clothing home to mom in laundry boxes via the post office, which loaded them onto the train. Bob talks about his experience of sending his laundry home while he was a student at Carleton College after World War II.