Until the development of the modern Interstate Highway System and modern aircraft, the 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 or were demolished.

Fortunately, some communities realized the historical importance of their railroad station and took steps to save and restore these icons. The Blackhawk Chapter has been involved in many of these projects:

The 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 their site in downtown Lockport to be part of their frontier village. The classic wood structure represents a typical 19th-century small town railroad depot.

The Symerton depot contains many original items from this era, including telegraph hardware, office equipment and original Wabash paperwork.

The Blackhawk Chapter has given generous financial support for repairs to this depot and has been the site of Bill Molony's continuing performance as a 19th-century station agent. The Blackhawk Chapter continues to pursue funds to fully restore the station's interior.

The Will County Historical Society will be moving their collection of buildings to a new location in 2008. Keep watching this website for the latest news on the Symerton depot and how the Blackhawk Chapter will be involved in its continued preservation.

Erected in 1885, the Plainfield, Illinois 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 freight train cabooses well into the 20th century. The depot was in daily operation with a freight agent until 1978.

In 1996, the railroad donated the depot to the Plainfield Historical Society and it was moved from its original Center Street location on EJ&E's mainline in 1999.

Today, the depot is located just west of the DuPage River on Lockport Street at Van Dyke Road along the EJ&E's River Line that runs from Plainfield to Minooka.

Numerous individuals, businesses and corporations donated time, materials and money toward the restoration and preservation of the depot building and the landscaping of grounds. The restored depot opened to the public on September 6, 2003. Future plans include the display of a boxcar and a caboose.

On Saturday August 5, 2006, the Blackhawk Chapter, along with the Plainfield Historical Society, sponsored an open house the Plainfield depot, giving railfans and area residents the opportunity see this well-done restoration up close.

The Blackhawk Chapter provided financial support and consultation on the restoration of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois depot in Beecher, Illinois when they took their depot back after it had been dragged to a private winery in nearby Monee.

The Blackhawk Chapter also hosts free open houses at this depot in conjunction with the Beecher Historical Society.

The Blackhawk Chapter has consulted on, encouraged community support and even inspected the Chicago & Alton depot in Wilmington, Illinois. Unfortunately, the building's all-brick construction has made moving the depot (which Union Pacific is demanding) prohibitively expensive.

The Blackhawk Chapter continues to monitor this situation and is hoping a promising solution can be found.

Other notable depot projects the Blackhawk Chapter has been involved in:

• 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 is currently encouraging community support for depot restorations or moves in Braidwood, Illinois along the former Chicago & Alton and in Seneca, Illinois along the former Rock Island.

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!