Oakland Mills Depot Flag Stop now stands in final location

OAKLAND MILLS — The historic Depot Flag Stop at Oakland Mills continues to inch closer to full restoration after a year marked by steady, if not always visible, progress. What began as a humble attempt to save a piece of local history has continued thanks to the effort of a small but mighty group of volunteers.

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The work to restore the Flag Stop involves countless hours of volunteer work, generous donations, and a determination to “do it right,” according to project organizer Lynn Conrad.

The structure now sets on Oakland Mills Road at the disc golf driveway directly across from the Helen Verden monument. The Flag Stop shows its original profile, which matches up with the early photographs. Although still in need of extensive repairs, the structure’s recent relocation and stabilization mark a significant milestone in a process that has been anything but straightforward.

“A lot of people have asked me about it because they don’t see anything happening,” Conrad said. “But there’s a lot that goes into it that you don’t see.”

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The depot, a small, weathered building that served as a flag stop for train passengers in its heyday, was relocated earlier this year to its current site. The move itself, though less than two miles in distance, was a difficult endeavor that required meticulous planning and execution.

Transportation of the structure began with assistance from Breuer Wrecker Service, workers from the Henry County Conservation Board, the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, and a dedicated team of volunteers. Moving the depot involved carefully lifting it off its previous foundation and placing it onto a flatbed truck for the journey.

“The trip down from on top of the hill to the new location was a little over a mile and took only about 30 minutes,” Conrad explained. “However, the last 20 feet took over three hours to complete.”

When the depot arrived at its new site, the challenge became how to safely transfer the structure onto its freshly constructed platform. Initially, the plan was to roll it off the truck, but the equipment available could not lift the building high enough to accomplish this. The volunteers improvised, lifting the depot manually while coordinating with the equipment operators.

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“So reminiscent to the Amish style of barn moving,” Conrad added. “Improvise, adapt, and overcome.”

The combined efforts of the volunteers and machinery eventually succeeded, and the depot was placed squarely on its platform, ready for the next phase of restoration.

While the depot is now firmly in place, much of the work has shifted to addressing the wear and tear inflicted by time and human intervention.

Volunteers removed five layers of roofing materials this year, including asphalt, tin, wood, and plastic. What lay beneath revealed extensive damage — partly from fire, partly from the depot’s original severance from a larger structure, and partly from its decades-long exposure to the elements.

“We tore the roof off it and found out we had it a little rough underneath that, but a lot more trouble made by other people,” Conrad said. “They cut about two foot of it off. So, we still have that to replace and some of the fancy trim work.”

Still, the setbacks have not discouraged Conrad or the volunteers. Much of the missing trim and structural pieces are already being reproduced by local craftsmen, and plans are in place to tackle remaining repairs come spring. The winter break will provide an opportunity to regroup and prepare for the next phase of restoration.

“If we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna do it to the best of our abilities,” Conrad said. “And if that means taking a little longer, so be it.”

The depot’s interior has also offered its share of surprises. As the volunteers removed the ceiling, they uncovered evidence of an early woodstove and electrical wiring, as well as initials carved into the rafters and studs. These discoveries add layers of historical intrigue to a structure already rich with significance.

For now, the depot’s roof is protected by a brown tarp to shield it from the elements, and it sits plumb and square, ready for the next steps. The work ahead includes reconstructing the missing section of the roof, restoring decorative trim and supporting corbels, and completing siding, painting, and landscaping.

Conrad emphasized that the project has been made possible entirely through donations and encouraged continued support.

The effort to save the depot has been a grassroots endeavor from the beginning. Every step of the process has relied on the generosity of local businesses, individuals, and organizations.

Ideal Ready Mix donated the cement for the foundation, while Barton Construction provided equipment and operators to assist in the digging of six four-foot-deep holes to anchor the structure.

Volunteers have supplied both the labor and the enthusiasm to keep the project moving forward.

“This project has not been done by one person,” Conrad said. “It’s the result of many helping in different ways to achieve a common goal.”

“If anybody’s interested in donating, we would still use money on it for supplies and whatnot,” he said. “We have got the roof to pay for and some siding and painting and gravel. Some people thought this was gonna be a weekend project. Well, it doesn’t work that way.”

For those passing by, the depot’s current state may look humble — a weathered building perched on a fresh concrete foundation, its roof covered in a makeshift tarp. But for Conrad and the many others who have poured their time and energy into the project, it is a testament to patience, perseverance, and the power of community.

“We are close to completion, but we’re not there yet,” Conrad said. “Still a lot of physical labor and big items to overcome. But we’ll get it.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com