Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Lost/C&NW & Lost/Soo Depots and Water Tower

A depot: (Satellite, the roads have been changed. For example, 7th Ave. used to go through this area.)

Chicago & North Western Historical Society posted
An interesting colorized photo post card from the C&NW Historical Society archives collection showing "Grand Rapids, Wisconsin" with a postmark of 1920 just before the name of the community was changed to WISCONSIN RAPIDS.  The poster likes the children in the photo.

Keith Meacham: The C&NW Depot in Wisconsin Rapids was a unique structure. It's too bad C&NW let it crumble away and had to tear it down.

Alan Bryner: I believe that was a joint facility at sometime. The C&NW and the Soo Line.

Keith Meacham: Alan Bryner: After C&NW was forced to tear down their Depot, C&NW moved in with the Soo Line, which was behind the vantage point of the photograph postcard. That must've been around the time I was born, 1963, and the Soo & C&NW remained together in the Soo Line Depot until 1974 (I think it was), The new C&NW "depot" built after 1974 also had space for the Soo Line. [See Keith's comment below with a photo of the Soo Line Depot.]

Richard Fiedler shared

An overview to include the railroad names. It appears the SOO terminated in this town.

1957/59 Wisconsin Rapids Quad @ 48,000

I zoomed in to find the C&NW station between 7th and Grand Avenues.

1957/59 Wisconsin Rapids Quad @ 48,000

Dennis DeBruler commented on Alan's comment
That makes sense because the Soo Line paralleled the C&NW into town. And it appears this Soo Line route terminated in this town.
1957/59 Wisconsin Rapids Quad @ 48,000

Keith Meacham: Dennis DeBruler: Until 1937, that is. After that date, Soo Line owned Eastmar (MP1) in Marshfield to MP 13 (south of Arpin) where the Soo Line swung over onto the C&NW for the mileage into Westrap (the junction in Wisconsin Rapids where the Soo got back onto their own trackage). From 1937 on, both companies owned 1/2 of the line and shared it.

Keith Meacham commented on Alan's comment
Not sure of the year or who the photographer was. Note both Railroad's Heralds on the end of the building. Originally, this building was also "GRAND RAPIDS" with name stones cast out of Concrete. The new signboards covered up the Cast Concrete originals, but over the bay window it read "GRAND RAPIDS" until this building was torn down. It was built in 1916.

Alan Bryner: Keith, that looks familiar. I was in that depot back in 1970 when I was a machine operator on the old Soo Line. We actually mowed grass along the right-of-way in those days. I saw the sights that year.

Chicago & North Western Historical Society posted

Dale Marks: It was only the Soo Line depot, till the C&NW abandoned their old station, east of here on Grand Ave. All gone in the mid 1970s. I remember when the old station board read Grand Rapids.