Holiday season in full swing in Independence for Christmas at the Depot

INDEPENDENCE - If you head up Interstate 380 from Cedar Rapids and then take Highway 150 a little further north, you'll come upon a place where the holiday season is in full swing.

'Once you cross the railroad tracks, you'll see it on the left,” says Carol O'Brien, chairwoman of the annual Christmas at the Depot fundraiser, which got underway Nov. 5 and continues through Sunday, Dec. 4, at the historic Illinois Central Railroad Depot, 1111 Fifth Ave. NE in Independence.

Sponsored by the Buchanan County Tourism Bureau, Christmas at the Depot features about 75 holiday themed items - including dozens of 24-inch, decorated Christmas trees, each with a theme - on the silent auction block each weekend leading up to the final day of the event. Guests are invited to stop to see the exhibit and make bids during the following times:

-- Saturday, Nov. 26 - Noon to 8 p.m.

-- Sunday, Nov. 27 - Noon to 5 p.m.

-- Saturday, Dec. 3 - Noon to 8 p.m.

-- Sunday, Dec. 4. - Noon to 3 p.m., at which time the silent auction closes and winning bidders are named.

Admission is free, though food and cash donations for the local food pantry are appreciated. Last year, 453 pounds of food and $250 was donated to the food pantry, O'Brien said.

Christmas at the Depot is now in its 24th year, O'Brien said. The fundraiser started out in the Wapsipinicon Mill in Independence and originally featured regular-sized Christmas trees.

Built in 1892, the Buchanan County Tourism Bureau purchased the railroad depot from Illinois Central for $1 in 1964 and moved it in October 1966 to its current location.

The restored depot building was opened as a museum in 2000 and is in operation from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from May 15 to Oct. 15. It features all kinds of Illinois Central artifacts and memorabilia and has an engine and caboose sitting outside.

Christmas at the Depot is the only fundraiser hosted by the tourism bureau to support depot operations. O'Brien said the $3,700 to $5,200 raised each year helps pay the electric and lawn maintenance bills.

'We went down to the smaller trees because it was just easier to give them out,” said O'Brien, adding the trees are decorated by Buchanan County residents and organizations and all 11 towns in the county are represented.

'They can decorate a tree or specialty item, like a lap robe, a hanging on the wall, even painted pictures,” O'Brien said. 'People just go all out.”

Over the years, O'Brien says she's developed the ability to know how much each item is going to bring at auction.

'When people come through the door I say, ‘That one's going to bring in $35, that one's going to bring in $105,' ” she said, noting some bids for items this year already are more than $100.

'We never know exactly what we're going to get until they come through the door,” she said. 'We're always surprised.”