|
This
is
our
oldest
photo
of
the
depot,
exact
date
unknown.
The
two
Ross
Winan
mud-diggers
on
the
left
were
a
design
introduced
in
1852.
The
early
"link
and
pin"
coupling
shows
clearly
on
the
front
of
the
nearest
engine.
The
brakeman
had
to
hold
this
steel
shaft
in
line
until
he
could
insert
the
pin
through
the
socket
hole.
Many
brakemen
were
injured
or
killed
in
this
operation.
Captain
F.
J.
Leydorf
used
the
right
building
on
Front
Street
as a
saloon.
See
photo
on
right
for
more
information
on
Leydorf
and
the
buildings. Click on "Willard Homesteads" to the left to
see a picture of Captain Leydorf. |
B
&
O
depot
about
1880.
In
these
early
days
of
railroading,
the
trains
men
were
very
poorly
paid
and
were
unable
to
pay
for
sleeping
rooms
during
layover
periods
between
runs.
Captain
Leydorf
opened
a
saloon
with
a
adjoining
building
containing
inexpensive
sleeping
quarters
for
the
trainmen.
The
two
buildings
can
be
seen
on
Front
Street
in
the
right
of
the
photo.
Since
Leydorf
was
Prussian,
part
of
his
sign
is
in
German,
welcoming
all
German
speaking
people
to
his
saloon.
Leydorf
was
an
early
mayor
of
Chicago
Junction
(now
Willard). |
|
Building of the Chicago Junction Station and the men who
did it in 1875. The third man from the left, front row is Samuel
Snyder, first mayor of the village. See the Willard Homesteads page
at the left for an early picture of his home. |
The Chicago Junction (Willard) Depot with a
local passenger train on the Sandusky-Newark Division about 1888. |
|
B
&
O
depot
about
1895.
Note
the
tiny
old
caboose
with
only
four
wheels
and
crude
boarding
steps.
The
left
end
of
the
building
was
at
that
time
a
restaurant
which
later
became
the
ticket
and
telegraph
office.
Also
note
that
the
car
containing
coal
on
the
right
is
entirely
made
of
wood. |
An old
picture of Chicago Junction Dept and B & O Depot Hotel (2nd
Floor). Note the wood coaches, men's button shoes, ladies bonnets
and long dresses. The depot was the first permanent building built
in Chicago Junction and it was made from bricks made on the property,
rather than haul them from a long distance. These same bricks were
used to build the depot replica in Willard Park, after the original
station building was torn down. The B & O shops, yards, and
stores buildings are in the background. |
|
The depot about 1912 showing the Front
Street underpass.
|
B
&
O
depot
1926.
Note
the
number
of
hand
trucks
for
the
massive
handling
of
baggage
and
freight.
Also
note
that
the
name
posted
is
Willard
instead
of
Chicago
Junction. |
|
B
&
O
depot
about
1939.
Front
Street
is
in
the
foreground. |
Buying
the
tickets
for
their
last
B
&
O
train
ride.
Note
the
fine
panel
work
in
the
old
station
built
in
1875.
Passenger
service
stopped
in
1969
and
the
depot
was
demolished
in
1976.
|
|
Ready
for
the
wrecker's
big
hammer
in
1976.
An
era
was
ended. |
Unusual roof support detail from 1976 view
before the razing.
|
|
Depot
Razing and Rebirth |
