The Froelich Train Depot

In 1872, the railroad came through what became the village of Froelich, first known as Froelich Station, and the freight depot was built around that time on the west side of old Highway 18 and 52, just north of the present depot location. The arrival of the railroad brought businesses and homes to the area, and passenger tickets were sold there until 1903. This narrow gauge rail line, called the Elkader Line, was a side spur off the main line at Beulah, and by 1882 it was replaced with standard size rail. By 1911, the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad built the livestock stockyard at Froelich north of the Iron Clad Store. The flood of 1916 destroyed the depot.

Iowa · United States