Clare Main Street
The City of Clare is a nationally accredited, master-level Michigan Main Street community. As such we are dedicated to preserving the history and character of our community.
The City of Clare developed at the crossroads of two important railways which remain active today. In years past, the railroad and Clare Depot served as a lifeline to this rural community through the transport of lumber, goods, and supplies. Also, many in our community remember when the train carried passengers to and from various points in the State.
When the opportunity arose to apply for a This Place Matters challenge that could help save the Depot, community members rallied to the cause, and within 24 hours more that 100 citizens both young and old in our community of 3,100, showed up to provide their support. Some of the youngest citizens present, who are members of a local daycare, were so excited by the project they colored "This Place Matters" pictures of their own upon returning to their daycare site. This showcases the strong support our community has for this project.
The City of Clare purchased the Depot from the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Railway Company in 2005 with the sole intent to preserve and restore this historic building. Immediately after purchasing the Depot the city was reimbursed the purchase price by a local business owner. This gift became the catalyst to develop the Historic Clare Depot Restoration Project. However, one condition the railway imposed with the sale of the Depot was that the Depot must be moved from its original site due to access, liability, and safety issues.
Community members who were concerned about the continued deterioration of the Depot approached the city's Planning Commission about making a concerted effort to preserve the historical Depot. In 2009 a site plan involving moving the Depot was developed. However, attempts to acquire the site failed, sending the committee back to the "drawing board." A new site for the Depot has been selected that offers the advantage of a new downtown focal point and as a trailhead for the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail that is easily accessible to City public services. The SHPO has indicated that it appears this will continue to meet historic significance criteria. A large portion of this site was donated by Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, and many successful fundraising activities have taken place. The Depot is slated to house relics of the railroad, the Clare County Visitors Bureau, Clare Area Chamber of Commerce, Clare County Arts Council & Art Gallery, Clare Main Street office, Great Lakes Central Railway maintenance office, serve as a trailhead for the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail and community picnic area, and eventually, once again, used as a railway boarding station.
The community hopes that the Depot will become an attractive destination for residents and visitors alike, offering a unique atmosphere that allows people to converge and socialize, encourages reflection and relaxation, promotes leisure activities, and further deepens the sense of community through the display of its ancestral heritage.
The information provided on Community Challenge pages is provided "as is," and the National Trust for Historic Preservation does not make any representations, endorsements, or warranties (either expressed or implied) on any comments, reviews, or suggestions posted. Neither does the National Trust assume responsibility or liability for the same.
