1886 Train Depot

As a member of the Wisconsin Senate Baruch Schleisinger Weil used his influence to convince the builders of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad to bring a route through Schleisingerville. In May of 1855 the first depot was built in anticipation for the new railroad. During the excavation for the new railroad a petrified Indian was found in June of 1855 near town. The Indian had a plate of copper on his breast that had hieroglyphics engraved on it. The Indian also had an arrow that was buried next to him. In August of that year the first train made its way to Schleisingerville.

On January 3, 1867 the original depot that was built in 1855 burned down as a result of arson. A $1000 reward was offered for the perpetrators. A new depot was built in 1886 when a second railroad by the name of Wisconsin Central completed its line through Schleisingerville. In August of 1907 the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad started working with the Wisconsin Central Railroad on drawing plans for a new depot that the two railroads will split the cost on. In May of 1911 an order was passed down requiring that a new depot be built before January 1st of 1912. In the summer of 1911 the new depot was built and named Union Depot.   The new depot was built in front of the existing depot. Once the new depot was operational the old depot was moved to 121 Storck Street and to this day is a private residence.

Passenger service on these lines carried many people to and from for many years and was discon-tinued in January of 1959. The depot was used by the railroad until late in 1980. It then was abandoned until 1984 when Ed and Minette Wolf purchased the depot from the Village of Slinger and with the help of their family restored it to be used as the corporate headquarters for E.H. Wolf and Sons. The depot was relocated about 200 yards north of where it was originally built. In 2018 E.H. Wolf and Sons moved to a larger office building allowing the SSHM to lease the building for this museum.