Alpine, IL: Lost/Wabash Depot

(Satellite)

Richard Fiedler posted seven photos with the comment: "Wabash depot Alpine Illinois MP 26.8 from Chicago. Claimed to be "The most ornate depot between Chicago and St Louis". Alpine was a railroad town born out of a land boom around 1891. The depot dated from 1896 per a Wabash 1902 Structures Book but the town history states 1891. The town peaked around 1910 and had a depot, 2 story general store and dancehall, a Methodist church, 2 saloons across the street from the depot, stockyard, a blacksmith shop, a feed mill, and wood sidewalks. The end started when as a result of a telegraphers strike every other depot lost their operator and Alpine drew a short straw   Then in 1911 or 12 fire totally destroyed the store and both saloons. The town withered and became a ghost town, around WW2 the depot was razed and the town dropped off the Cook County Sales Tax List in 1941. Now the site is gobbled up in the suburban sprawl of Orland Park. Just another subdivision. Photos from the collection of Robert and James Fiedler."

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Richard Fiedler commented on his post
Yes it does. Remember that like most railroads the Wabash developed a basic standard plan. A WStL&P plan for a standard combination depot is attached. The Wabash modified that plan through the years and adapted it to local needs as well.

I had to use topo maps to find where to look on this aerial photo because the down had all but disappeared. In this photo, 167th Street is along the bottom and the road along the left side is Wolf Road (US-6).

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

 

The cartographer didn't catch that the depot was torn down during WWII. This is what allowed me to find the depot on the aerial photo and a satellite image.

1953/55 Mokena Quad @ 24,000

The second photo posted by Jim's post shows several buildings along what is Pear Avenue on today's maps. I'm surprised that this map doesn't show those buildings.

1901/12 Des Plaines Squad @ 62,500

A 1993 topo map shows this area was still out in the country, but the last topo map available shows that urban sprawl is swallowing this area.

1998/2002 Mokena Quad @ 24,000