Wilkinson, IL: Milwaukee/CG&M and C&NW Depot

(Satellite, the town has disappeared.)

A town that had two railroads normally doesn't disappear. But in this case, it never really got started.

DeKalb County History Center posted three photos with the comment:

National Train Day is the day to spread information on the History of the railway system.  We have a great story for you!

At one time, hopes were high for the eventual creation of the village of Wilkinson in Mayfield Township. In the late 1890s, a railroad depot was established approximately one-half mile north of the intersection of Route 64 and Annie Glidden Road. 

In 1905, a permanent depot was constructed to facilitate switching operations and freight transfers between the two railroads whose tracks crossed at this point. In 1935, with the advent of modern switching equipment, the Depot was abandoned and eventually torn down in the mid-1940s. The few houses that had sprung up adjacent to the depot were also razed at this time.

Today, the area originally proposed for Wilkinson is known as The Wilkinson-Renwick Marsh.

Martin O'Connor shared

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Dennis DeBruler commented on Martin's share
This one is a head scratcher. Both the topo and the 1939 aerial imply that the depot was in the southeast quadrant of the crossing. But that is not consistent with the connector track we see in the first photo.
https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/webdocs/ilhap/county/data/dekalb/flight7/0bwr05014.jpg

Dennis DeBruler commented on Martin's share
1918 Kirkland Quad @ 62,500
Martin O'Connor: I think the first photo is after the CGW tracks were eliminated west of the Milwaukee Road.
Dennis DeBruler: Given the size and speed of the locomotive in the second photo, I assume we are looking Eastish along the CGW. That makes sense with the building by the road in the aerial photo. The diverging track will remain a mystery.

Jeff Rich posted
Martin O'Connor: Fresh plaque, same old naming error. The description conflates two names of one of the roads. It was known as the Illinois, Iowa & Minnesota before it became the Chicago, Milwaukee & Gary.
Jeff Geisler posted