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Discover the Rich History of Breda Depot and E-bike Rental
Explore the culture and architecture of iconic landmarks and historical buildings.
About Breda Depot and Bike Rental
Our History
Discover the rich history of Breda Depot and Bike Rental and its significance in the local community. The Breda Depot was originally built in 1905 to serve as a depot for the Chicago NorthWestern Railroad. The original building burned down that same year and was rebuilt in 1906.
Passenger service was ended in the 1950's and freight service in the 1970's. The building was left abandoned for a couple decades. In the 1990's a group of Breda residents and businesses came together with the help of grants and restored the building.
Not much was done with the building after the restoration was completed in 1993. The building slowly became worn. In the fall of 2022, Chuck and Rhonda Martin first approached Carroll County Conservation Board with a request to purchase the dilapidated building. After many meetings with the Conservation Board and the Carroll County Board of Supervisors, it was decided to put the building and a portion of the land out for public bidding. The Martin's had the highest (and only) bid. The sale became final May of 2023.
The Martin's are working on restoring the building and keeping a portion of the building a museum containing both railroad history and some city history and then have an ebike rental and sales business out of north end of the building.
The Breda Depot sits right along the Sauk Rail Trail approximately half way between Swan Lake and Blackhawk Lake.
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