Waukegan, IL: Rynksel Coal Company and C&NW Depot, Coaling & Water Towers

Coal Co.: (Satellite?, it is long gone. I could not find it on a 1939 aerial photo.)

Depot: (Satellite, the depot was removed to make room for IL-137 and an extension of Washington Street.)

These retail coal silos help me understand how important anthracite coal was for heating homes until the mid-20th Century. These images also document the state of truck development by the end of the 1920s.

Roger Kujawa posted two images with the comment: "RYNKSEL COAL COMPANY WAUKEGAN ILLINOIS LETTER DATED OCTOBER 5 1929"

Paul Meier: Very common in my youth, then came fuel oil and gas. I live in Kenosha, WI where there were numerous coal dealers with rail service.

Kerry Doyle: The silos/elevators were a common form into the 50’s, then disappeared for reasons Paul Meier cites

1

I presume this was their original facility in Waukegan instead of Janesville.

2

Larry Foht posted two photos with the comment:

Chicago North Western Railroad Depot 

Waukegan Illinois 

Date: 1934

Ritzman Photo

Larry Foht collection :

Richard Fiedler shared

Steven Hooker shared

[According to some comments, the depot still existed in the 1970s, but the bridge and the passenger platform had been removed.]

1
[Looking South. Note the water plug in the foreground and the coaling tower in the left background.]

2
[Looking North. Note the water tower under the bridge that would supply the water plug.]

1960 Waukegan Quad @ 24,000

Because of the bridge over the tracks, it is easy to identify that the depot was halfway between Madison and Water Streets at the end of Washington Street.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

But the area has changed a lot to make room for IL-137.

Satellite

I can't explain why such an old building would exist where I think the depot used to be.

Street View, Sep 2015