DeKalb, IL: Wurlitzer Piano Factory

(Satellite)

I know Wurlitzer made organs. They evidently once made pianos as well.

Joe Ikon posted four photos with the comment:

Found these photos online of old piano factory in Dekalb Illinois on Pleasant St along old CNWRR line north to Sycamore then to Belvidere. You can see the old CM&G/CNW crossing tower in the distance.

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Lost Illinois Manufacturing posted six photos with the comment: "Photos taken 3-15-2014 of the Wurlitzer factory in DeKalb, IL. on Pleasant Road."

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Birds-Eye View

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Lost Illinois Manufacturing posted
Wurlitzer factory in DeKalb, July 4, 1960. Embree collection, NIU.http://digital.lib.niu.edu/islandora/object/rhcrc%3A002…
Linda Gurtz Hildreth They also made accordions.

A different exposure of the top photo that shows better details.

Wayne DeMunn posted
C&NW and CGW lines to Sycamore, The Gary line junction and Tower can be seen in the distance, Wurlitzer to the right. Floyd Ritzman photo Circa 1936. — in DeKalb, Illinois.
Wayne DeMunn For those who don't already know, the Wurlitzer building was recently demolished.

Dave Kuntz posted
Were these clusters of buildings in Dekalb served by the Gary Line?  Old aerials seem to show a track from Peace Rd along with the CGW and CNW

Jim Worrell: That is the Wurlitzer buildings along Pleasant St

The Minneapolis St Paul ran thru there and there was a Railway Express freight terminal East of Wurlitzer.

Bill Angus posted
In 1910 the CM&G used the CGW depot and their own freight house. This according to an article by Charles Stats published in the Winter 1992 issue C&NW historical society magazine.

An album of 52 photos taken in March 2014.

It was obviously rail served

It was served by the Milwaukee (CM&G).  Is that a Fairbanks-Morse on the other end of the train?