By Jim Bloch
The historic Fort Gratiot train depot, which serves as the main building of the Thomas Edison Depot Museum, will soon see $23,450 in upgrades, including new siding on the south side of the facility and five new windows.
The Port Huron City Council voted unanimously at its regular meeting March 24 to award the contract for the work to sole bidder Union Properties, LLC. The company is based in Port Huron.
“The Thomas Edison Depot Museum has siding and window deterioration and failure as a result of age and weathering,” said City Manager James Freed in his memo to council about the project. “Approximately 600 square feet of siding on the south side of the building needs to be replaced, caulked, and painted. There are three windows varying in size and two half-moon windows that need replacing, including trim, and caulk.”
The city had difficulty attracting bidders for the work.
“The project was advertised on October 21, 2024,” said Freed. “No bids were received at the November 21, 2024, bid opening of this project.”
Further attempts were made at acquiring three quotes.
“We sought Union Properties out several times, and they provided us with what we think is a reasonable bid,” said Freed, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on the city’s website. “It is rotting and deteriorating. It’s on the south side, so the sun doesn’t hit it.”
The museum is located at 510 Edison Parkway, under the Blue Water Bridge. It opened to the public in February 2001, the second satellite attraction of the Port Huron Museum; the first was the Huron Lightship. The museum opens for the 2025 season May 3 and will be open Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the month. Group tours are available year-round by calling (810) 982-0891, extension 116.
Grand Trunk Railway built the depot in 1858. Thomas Edison worked out of the depot as a newsboy 1859-1863. The museum also features a restored baggage car with exhibits of Edison’s boyhood chemistry lab and printing shop.
“The exhibits portray Edison’s multi-faceted story of creativity, family support, adversity, perseverance, and ultimate triumph as one of the greatest inventors of our time,” according to the museum. “Re-created period environments and hands-on displays invite visitors to become participants in this inspiring story and encourage them to apply their own creativity and ingenuity as they learn about Edison’s life and his inventions.”
The final vote was 7-0.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
