RAILROAD FREIGHT DEPOT BUILDING 100 YEARS OLD

One noticeable building tucked away just west of the business district in downtown Albion is the former New York Central Freight Depot. We all recognize this structure today as Gina’s Pizza & Deli, at 301 N. Clinton St., but one hundred years ago this building was being constructed to handle the railroad freight business in town. Back then, transportation by rail was a major way of shipping and receiving goods produced at local factories, as well as agricultural shipments of grain and livestock.

The old wooden Michigan Central freight depot had burned in a spectacular blaze on the morning of October 13, 1920. See our October 11, 2020 edition of this column to read about that. During the spring of 1921, plans were drawn up for a new fire-proof Union freight depot composed of brick and concrete. Bidding began in August of that year.

The contract was awarded to the Ashley Construction Company of Battle Creek, and work commenced one hundred years ago this month, on October 17, 1921. On December 5, 1921, the bricklaying work began, and the two-story structure was completed on February 15, 1922. The local freight agent was John C. Dunn. After freight business declined in the 1960s, the freight depot was closed and its operations were transferred to the passenger depot across the tracks before that, too, was closed.

During the mid-1970s the building was transformed into the "Land of Hobbies," a popular attraction for local youth and hobbyists. Later on, the building became the home of a series of restaurants, culminating with today’s Gina’s Pizza. Gina has retained the railroad look in the interior of the building, including the old freight weighing scales. Stop by and take a look around.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of the former New York Central Railroad freight depot. How many of our readers have eaten at Gina’s Pizza?

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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