depot town depot town commercial area residences michigan historic district depot town proper consists small area block blocks surrounding area commonly referred depot town areas include extending north south blocks established late 1830s buildings standing today constructed years included hotels underground railroad station american_civil_war barracks building housed bar restaurant continuously years switching soft drinks prohibition today area dominated restaurants stores depot town hosts large summer festivals year weekly bike nights cruise nights history depot town created opened railroad connected detroit area surrounding depot grew commercial community known depot town built thirty years following arrival railroad buildings standing today built early years depot town included flour mill large farmers store iron fire department clothing store paved streets original city hall jail built depot town depot built mile north chicago road michigan avenue community split competing locations earliest developments note depot town built opening stood triangular plot west north railroad track bought land replace old wood depot newer modern brick depot demolished hotel carried bricks river street built story structure known early depot town experienced large fire spread sparks far barn mile away destroyed tunnels originally built water drainage passed beneath railroad ran businesses cross street hiding places escaped slaves hid day rode boats night known abolitionist operated station underground railroad hiding escaped slaves home near depot american civil war barracks regiments early seventh bought building passed generations thompson family eventually known widely known gardens surrounded longtime built enormous arrangements evoked battleship maine known landscapes 1950s railroad traffic declined parts began fall disrepair sale standing vacant year series businesses opened closed building finding lasting success late 1960s landlord bought building warehouse building tied legal disputes found guilty demolition neglect barnes barnes properties named receivers purchased building outright amtrak passenger trains continued stop depot town early 1980s ending round trip stops eastbound train making stop depot town expected stop proposed detroit commuter rail line boarding platform clear tracks platform built structures original area took longer stands northeast tracks west river street directly replaced parking lot built stand area immediately home farmers markets courtyard sits parallel rice street closed safety concerns early city received repairs usable northeast corner cross stands historic building barracks civil war thompson block suffered bad fire early morning september temporary supports reaching adjacent streets installed shortly fire stabilize structure blocked westbound traffic cross street months resulted legal city property owner southwest corner intersection building housing held bar restaurant continuously unusual shape resulting train early january morning twelfth car laden lumber car freight train came tracks crashed corner building owner building lived section hit personnel effects scattered street people near railroad crossing including year old female knocked unconscious man sitting car able away unharmed current owners went build spot found debris underneath difficult dig post holes entrance building moved east current position north accommodate post prohibition law requiring bar entrances feet church constructed nearby church burned according owner floor walls bricks deep oldest remaining bricks dating 1850s southeast corner cross housed business opened miller motors hudson brand continued service parts supplier hudson collectors east river street south railroad tracks originally contains owned roof installed solar panels april followed panels producing total kilowatts peak sunlight data meters viewed solar website allowing compare generation different sites buildings depot town stories east end building single story east rice street building facing cross street north stories single tall story west end depot town sides cross street story structures recent construction taller buildings vicinity depot town immediately northeast downtown riverside parks immediately west depot town informally considered district way bridge known links parks depot town riverside park corner cross street street oldest park block west cross street corner brewery north depot town commonly associated district half mile north depot town river street depot town half mile southeast campus new student orientation eastern provides students gift certificates called restaurants depot town downtown students use day known walk city acquainted businesses addition antique stores michigan market tattoo record shop fly fishing store farmers markets variety services including therapy russian ballet instruction motorcycle auto repair depot town home known restaurants depot town newest restaurant mexican opened june serving fresh scratch mexican fare complimenting institutions occupied southwest corner intersection saloon building north cross street established moved 1980s addition sells fresh bread door river street owned claims wood fired brick oven commercial use originally called depot town founded independent cooperative non profit loan prospective customers stretch limited funds brick oven built hand beginning bread housed world surviving street thompson block farmers markets began near downtown moving times settling late 1970s inside market operated year round included coffee shop frequent live music closure structural concerns farmers market operated courtyard outside events michigan cold winter majority events held late march early october events place depot town summer beer festival michigan tuesday bike night thursday cruise nights depot town home vintage car shows concert band jazz band orchestra concerts annual dog parade summer beer festival summer beer festival established held fourth saturday friday evening july beginning set goal operate beer festivals zero waste events work closely local recycling companies manage removal plastic aluminum paper food waste ensure recycled animal feed achieved requiring vendors plates unlike events festival self supporting outside sponsors festival drew attendees despite heat torrential power possibility tornadoes michigan served different year michigan founded michigan annual day festival held july depot town established replace previous based music festival grown largest festival north_america attended approximately fans year addition includes performances heritage festival held year weekend august downtown festival includes events vintage base ball bed race hot dog eating contest rubber duck race nightmare cruise spoof dream cruise detroit orphan car summer hosts includes parade presentations automotive historians defunct car brands discontinued models ongoing brands accepted foreign vehicles allowed longer sold united_states
Depot Town