GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A piece of Delta County history is officially ready for the holiday season.
Thursday evening, the Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority turned on Christmas lights on the Gladstone landmark. Located on US-2, the engine is an integral part of the area’s story.
“It’s a Pacific train engine that was donated to the City of Gladstone in 1960 as a static display, and it’s been here ever since,” Steam Engine Authority President John Pickard said. “We came along about three years ago and refurbished it.”
The authority is dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the engine. Members hope to build a museum and welcome center detailing its history. They are raising funds to do so through the Community Foundation for Delta County.
“What’s really neat is that railroads across the U.P. were really one of the foundational aspects that helped to develop it over the last several hundred years,” said Community Foundation Board Chair Charlie Becker. “You think about mining, logging, forestry, and all the other business that we’ve had. One of the mainstays of getting material moved really was our railroads. It’s pretty nostalgic to have an old engine that functioned in this area so many years ago still here for people to see and view and, at Christmas time, to enjoy the lights on it.”
All the Christmas lights on the steam engine were donated by the community. This year’s lighting was made possible thanks to the support of the Gladstone Lions Club.
“It’s so fun to see people come by here and look at this restored train,” said District 10 Lions Governor Colleen Maki. “Especially, kids are fascinated. When you’re part of a community and you can bring people together with a little piece of history, it just broadens the horizons for everyone.”
Anyone interested in supporting the Gladstone Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority can visit cfup.org, call 906-786-6654, or email office@cfup.org.
