In 1871 the Central came to Stevens Point. In 1872 the GB&W (then GB & Lake Pepin RR) came into Plover.

On April 30, 1872 people of Amherst cast votes upon the proposition of $10,000 aid to the GB & LP conditional that a depot should be established near the village. The stout people of Amherst defeated the proposition roundly, much to the disgust of President Ketchum “who stamped the dust off his feet as he departed declaring that the town need expect no favors from his road.”

In Oct. 1872, the Village of Plover welcomed the railroad more readily, the railroad setting its sights on the shortest line possible between two points, driving the railroad through the middle of the town directly through the portion that had been dedicated in the original Moses Strong plat to the village’s public square. To quote the Plover Times, Oct. 25, 1872:

“Hurrah! Ring the bells! Fire the guns! Bring out your firecrackers and pop-guns...for sixteen long and weary years the inhabitants of Plover have been looking, toiling and hoping for a railroad...but now we’ve got a RAILROAD.”