Roodhouse Depot and Roundhouse and some Roodhouse history
The cities of Roodhouse and White Hall claimed their stakes to become the hub of the C & A Railroad. Knowing that this designation would result in a huge influx of passengers to their town and help turn their tiny hamlet into a bustling metropolitan destination, John Roodhouse, E. M. Husted and John Rawlins took a hand-pump car and travelled to Jacksonville where they boarded a train to Chicago to plead their case to the President of the C & A Railroad, Timothy Blackstone. A deal was made that the three men were given one week to raise $10,000 and secure 10 acres of land. Husted sent a wire back to Roodhouse stating, “all is lovely and the goose hangs high.” They had won their battle but the hard work had just begun.
Husted was first to donate to the cause giving $500.00 of his own money. Roodhouse and Rawlins along with William Cobb all gave $1,000.00. More than $6,000.00 was raised in the very first day. John Roodhouse gladly gave the 10 acres of land required with the understanding that if the railroad went out of business that the land would be returned to him or his descendants. Shortly thereafter the railroad was built in Roodhouse and a small depot was also constricted on the land.
The original depot located at Roodhouse was destroyed by fire on March 15, 1890. Several months would pass before any plans would be made to replace it. Many citizens of the area doubted that the Chicago and Alton Railroad would rebuild a structure in their town. There was a question as to whether a new depot would be constructed at all but those doubts would soon be laid to rest.
On June 19, 1890, a large number of men could be seen heading toward the debris and rubble that was left in the wake of the fire. They promptly began clearing the area in preparation for the foundation of a new and much grander depot of which the citizens of Roodhouse had never seen before.
The material used in the basement and first story was the finest limestone quarried and transported from Louisiana, Missouri. The stone contractor was Fred Henson and his attention to detail could be seen in the level of craftsmanship found throughout the structure.
The second story was of wood frame construction and this as well as the roof was covered in a high-quality black slate. Many theorized, and with good reason, that the shape of the building itself held great importance to the railroad. When looking at the tower facing west, the building resembled a steam engine. It was thought that this represented the Westward Expansion that was taking place during this era.
H. J. Martin was the contractor in charge of all the carpenters and he took great care to ensure that only the finest materials were used in the depot’s construction. His skill as a craftsman and scrupulous eye guaranteed that every detail was inspected before completion lending to the building’s awe-inspiring appearance upon viewing it for the first time.
Expense was not spared on the interiors either as many security additions were made and a high level of style was infused within the depot. A boiler and storage rooms were located in the basement. The boiler that provided heat to the entire building was provided by Baker and Smith of Chicago. This was the same company that provided heat for all the passenger cars on the Chicago and Alton Railroad. This boiler was a very advanced model for the day and was automatic. It also contained an independent feeder that would provide water to the unit should any of the valves become backed up. The basement also contained a battery and dry room. The dry room was completely fire proof and had a combination safe.
The ticket office, waiting rooms, box room, kitchen, and the baggage and express offices were located on the first floor. The ticket office was located on the west end and was octagonal in shape. Inside stood a fire-proof vault that stored the tickets and the money. The agents entered through a small door beneath the ticket window which was designed for their safety. The waiting rooms were very large and opulent for the era and even the bathrooms were considered elegant.
The lunch room was managed by F. M. Bateman who also oversaw the Phoenix Hotel located in town. A thirty foot long mahogany countertop could be seen spreading the distance of the large room. Bateman was careful to pick furniture pieces that corresponded including sideboards, tables and chairs.
When walking up to the second story, offices could be found decorated in style and comfort. The Superintendent of the depot, W. K. Morley enjoyed showing friends and neighbors around his office taking great care to point out the beautiful furniture. Opening directly off of Morley’s office was that of his private secretary, L. E. Smith whose office was also designed for comfort as well as function. There was a fire-proof vault with a combination lock and door that housed the important files necessary for the running of the business.
On the other end of the second story is located the offices of the Trainmaster, J. A. Jordan and his dispatchers, superintendents, road-master and claim agent.
Throughout the entire building were floors of the finest Southern Pine. They were finished in a hard oil that protected them and left a natural finish that brought out the beauty of the wood. The doors that connected all of the first floor rooms including the kitchen and the waiting rooms were all double doors that swung in both directions. Finishes throughout the building were all of the highest quality and the depot was the pride of the community in which it sat.
At the heyday of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, twenty-seven passenger trains past through Roodhouse on a daily basis. This was also a time of great economic boom as most of these passengers would eat and lodge within the city. The number of hotels increased sharply to sustain this need. It was normal for the citizens of Roodhouse to converge around the depot as the train cars would unload their passengers. Everyone would put on their best and a simple trip out on the square would become a show of all the fashions of the day.
The success of the C & A Railroad continued for many years as travel on a train was considered the safest and most luxurious way to go. The city of Roodhouse reaped many of the benefits ensuring that their businesses would thrive. As other forms of transportation became more readily available, and many issues arose with the railroad including wage strikes and Federal bureaucracy, profits that seemed so easy to attain in the past began to dwindle. It wasn’t long before profits turned to debts and passenger trains stopped running through the town at all. The railroad itself was bought and sold many times before being put into receivership by the Government and all assets were seized. The line was eventually sold to the G. M. & O and then on to the I. C. G.
On August 8, 1979, the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad decided that operations at the north yards, roundhouse and car department cease immediately. Both switch engines were put out of service. Trains were instructed to travel straight through and the rumor that the railroad would be leaving the city now became a distinct reality.
The C & A Depot once stood as a beacon of hope and prosperity for the citizens of the city of Roodhouse. With the demise of the railroad, the depot was remodeled to serve as sleeping quarters for the trainmen that worked the line. Anything of value was stripped and sold and the once bustling train stop was reduced to a picture on a postcard, its glory now just a distant memory from the past.
The Roodhouse Depot and freight house were sold for demolition on June 12, 1980. Concerned citizens scrambled to have the iconic structure placed on the National Register of Historic Places in hopes that it would be preserved. Their tiresome efforts paid off and the depot was to be placed on the register on July 21, 1980. On July 20, 1980 a little girl in a home to the north was alarmed by smoke billowing from the upper level of the depot. She called the fire department but her efforts would be fruitless. They had been called out minutes before on a false alarm just east of the reservoir. By the time the fire department had reached the depot, much of it had been completely consumed by flames and was deemed a total loss. The people of the town surrounded the burning building and could be seen openly crying. A piece of railroad heritage had been destroyed only leaving a memory that would be cherished forever.
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