Towns and Nature: Reading, IL: 1888-1919 Santa Fe Moon Depot

Thomas Dyrek posted
The Santa Fe depot at Moon, Illinois, in May 1973. Photo by G. E. Mansfield, Thomas Dyrek collection.
John Burt: Santa Fe combination depot at Moon (Reading), near Streator, built in 1888. This station closed in 1919 and was moved back from the tracks in the 1950’s. For many years it was used as a hay barn but now appears to be abandoned. Much of the wood has rotted and several support beams are gone. The depot is currently leaning to the east and is being held up by a single tree. I’d say this one is too far gone for restoration and it probably doesn’t have much time left. A slightly larger depot of the same design still stands in Roanoke, about 30 miles to the southwest, and is in much better condition.

Richard Fiedler commented on Thomas' post
Pete Zimmermann posted
Moon Illinois(aka Reading) depot that once sat between Streator and Ancona. The post I got it from and another group said that the station still exists though not in good shape. The depot was built by the lines original builder Chicago Pekin and southwestern Railway circa 1876

Shawn Volpe: I was told by a pretty reliable source that moon closed in 1920 or 21. That building was erected by the Chicago pekin &southwestern between the years 1869 and 1873( the line from pekin to Streator was competed in this period ). The farmer who lives to south stored hay and straw in the back of the building all through the 70’s and 80’s.Ive explored every square inch a half dozen times over the years, it sits on flagstones and was very well built.

Evan Eisenmenger: And a link to a forum on it: http://rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40024

Richard Fiedler posted

Santa Fe depot at Moon now called Reading IL. Was erected by predecessor the Chicago Pekin and Southwestern RR. The agency was closed around 1919, and the depot sold but the structure survives, at least sort of in terrible shape. It may be gone by now.