Mason, IL: Lost/IC Depot

(Satellite, the 1938 location)

Effingham County Courthouse Museum Effingham IL posted

Good morning! Today's picture takes us to Mason Township and the village of Mason.

This is a picture of the depot in Mason. From what I understand the depot was in several locations throughout the years. There is no longer a depot located in Mason. 

This was the depot for the Illinois Central Railroad. This was at a time of steam locomotives and passenger service from Mason. I believe this was a real picture postcard from 1905 by the Curt Teich Studio.

 As you come into Mason from the north on Route 37, you will notice a marker near the curve. Mason received its name from Roswell Mason, an executive with the Illinois Central Railroad. If you have time, stop and look at the marker for Roswell Mason. The railroad and trains played an important part for all of the towns and villages that were located by them. 

Those days of passenger service in small towns are long gone as are most of those small depots. In our train room at the museum we are trying to collect pictures of every depot that used to be in Effingham County. We have almost all of them.

Wherever you may be, I wish you a wonderful day.

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

Effingham County Courthouse Museum Effingham IL posted

Good morning! Today's picture takes us near Mason, Illinois. 

This is the water tower on the Illinois Central that was used to supply water to steam locomotives. This water tower was located north of Mason and this picture is from 1902.

As you can see, the weather was so cold that the water tower was iced over. It didn't matter what the temperature was, steam locomotives had to have water. These men worked no matter what the conditions to get the water to the trains. Trains brought many jobs to Effingham County. Trains brought people to Effingham County. Trains are a huge part of our heritage.

I believe that the man who lived in the house shown in the picture acted as sort of a caretaker for the water tower. I imagine that these workers were paid by the railroad. This tower has not stood for many, many years but if you go to Kinmundy you can see one that has been restored. 

Wherever you may be, I wish you a wonderful day!

Richard Fiedler shared

It appears this town did not have a grain elevator in 1938. So naturally, it doesn't have one today. It does have a post office, town hall and civic center. But I could not find a single gas station on a satellite map. And there is not an exit on I-57 for this town.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Was the depot gone by 1956 because it is not marked on this map.

1956/57 Edgewood Quad @ 62,500