The Ely Boston and Maine Railroad Depot is significant not only as an intact structure that has survived from this country's now past great railroad era, but also because of the role that the property has played in the state's mining and agricultural heritage, and its association with the large number of summer youth camps that once dominated nearby Lake Fairlee. Prior to the present automobile age, it was the vast number of depots such as Ely that linked Vermont to the rest of the world, providing transportation to its population as well as shipping and receiving the goods and services that were a part of daily life several generations ago. The building still retains significant exterior features like the station agent's trackside bay window, the attached freight house, and loading docks that were typical to facilities such as this. Inside, most of the original layout, trim, and finishes are still preserved, all offering a clear understanding of the building and its purpose. - NRHP, 9 December 1994