Until
the development of the modern Interstate Highway System and modern commercial
aircraft, the railroad depot was the gateway to the local community for both goods
and people. As time went on, the railroads no longer had need for these buildings
and many became neglected and were demolished.
Fortunately,
some communities realized the historical importance of their railroad stations
and took the steps to save and restore these icons. The Blackhawk Chapter
is been involved in many of these projects:
Lockport,
Illinois
| On
September 18, 2010, the Blackhawk Chapter noted the historical status of our hometown
station with a formal ceremony recognizing the station's 150th anniversary. Built
for the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, the depot has served Lockport continuously
for a century and a half. Click
here for more about the Lockport depot. |
Symerton,
IllinoisThe
1881 Wabash depot from Symerton, Illinois
(on the line from Chicago to Decatur) was moved board-by-board by the
Will
County Historical Society to a site
in downtown Lockport to be part of their frontier village. In
2009, the frontier village was put in storage, but new and exciting plans have
been made and the Symerton depot will once again have a home in Lockport. Click
here for more about the Symerton depot. |  |
Wilmington,
Illinois 
| The
Blackhawk Chapter had encouraged community support and donated funds for the preservation
of this former Chicago & Alton depot,
working with the Wilmington Depot Association. Unfortunately,
numerous factors stalled plans to move or restore the depot and it is now scheduled
for demolition in early 2012 as engineers have determined that the depots location
may be in the way of improvements to the track and right-of-way that will allow
110 mph speeds for Amtrak service between Chicago and St. Louis. Click
here for more about the Wilmington depot. |
Plainfield,
Illinois
Erected
in 1885, the depot served both freight and passengers. The Elgin, Joliet &
Eastern operated scheduled passenger service between Joliet and Aurora, including
Plainfield, from 1886 until 1907. The “J” allowed
passengers to travel in the caboose on freight trains into the 20th century. The
depot was in daily operation with a freight agent until 1978. Click
here for more about the Plainfield depot. | 
|
Wakarusa,
Indiana Located
along the now-abandoned former Wabash line across Northern Indiana, the Blackhawk
Chapter supplied original plans and consulted on the restoration
of the Wabash depot, including the total reconstruction of the once-demolished
baggage section of the building. |  |
 | Beecher,
Illinois The
Blackhawk Chapter provided financial support and consultation on the restoration
of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois depot. The village took their depot
back years after it had been dragged to a private winery in nearby Monee. |
Also
on display at Beecher, next to the depot, is former
Missouri Pacific caboose
#13649.  On
the first Saturday in August, the Blackhawk Chapter hosts a free open house at
the Beecher depot in conjunction with the Beecher Historical Society, whose museum
is now located in the depot.
Check our Schedule for the date of the next
open house. |  |
 | Morris,
Illinois The
Blackhawk Chapter was consulted
on the restoration of the Rock Island depot, now
home to the Morris Chamber of Commerce. Blackhawk
Chapter president Bill Molony has written an article on the history of
the Morris depot for an issue of “The Rocket,” the official magazine
of the Rock Island Technical Society. |
Other
Depots Other
notable depot projects the Blackhawk Chapter has been involved in: -
The Blackhawk Chapter is currently encouraging community support for restoration
of the recently relocated former Chicago & Alton depot in Braidwood,
Illinois and the former Rock Island depot in Seneca, Illinois.
- The
Blackhawk Chapter was consulted on a proposal for a historical recreation (replacing
the heavily-modified original) of a Pennsylvania Railroad depot to be used
as a station on the bike trail through Lansing, Illinois on the former
PRR “Panhandle Line” right-of way.
- The
Blackhawk Chapter campaigned for the granting of landmark status of the Wabash
depot from North Ritchie, Illinois, which was granted by the Will County
Historic Preservation Commission.
If
you are interested in helping with any of these projects, or know of a depot that
needs to be saved,
come join
the Blackhawk Chapter today!
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