STURTEVANT - Soon, the train depot where so many riders boarded will likely be headed up the road itself.

At a special meeting last week, the Caledonia Historical Society voted to begin negotiating a deal with the Canadian Pacific Railway to move the unused depot from Sturtevant to Linwood Park in Caledonia. The depot closed in 2006 when a new depot opened in the Renaissance Business Park.

There was no opposition to the plan to take the building from 2904 Wisconsin St. and preserve it as an educational tool, said Jess Last, who is coordinating the move with her husband, Otto. A few members were less enthusiastic about reaching across village borders, but she said the 1902 building is a treasure to the entire area. The turret makes it stand out from others built by the Milwaukee Road railroad company.

"If this goes, it'll be another Venetian Theatre," Last said, referring to the razed Downtown Racine movie palace. "There'll never be another one."

Mike Slater, president of the Western Union Junction Railroad Club, tried to gauge interest in maintaining the Sturtevant station several years back when Racine's depot was restored. The effort didn't get far, and neither the club nor the village has money to do anything now, Slater said.

"I would probably prefer the building stay in Sturtevant, but it's better than seeing the building demolished," he said.

One of the possibilities being discussed is that Canadian Pacific will contribute toward the move, company spokesman Jeff Johnson said. Railroad officials plan to build a new operations building on that section of land.

The Caledonia Historical Society has already lined up a contractor to move the structure for $36,000, plus the costs of temporarily moving utility wires, Last said. As of last week, donors had pledged $48,000.

Once it's renovated, students would be invited to tour the depot and see some train-related

artifacts, Last said.

"Not too many youngsters are familiar with railroads, unfortunately," she said.

The special meeting was called because the group needs to move quickly, Last said. Railroad officials indicated they'd like the building removed or razed by June 1, although historical society member Larry McCalvy said obtaining the permits and putting in the new foundation could take longer.

Fixing it up could take another $50,000, McCalvy estimated. Last said that might be conservative, considering the water damage and warped floors. Still, she said she's confident it can be done because the original Caledonia town hall, which already resides at Linwood Park, was in worse shape when the group took on that rehabilitation

project.