Ritchey (Ritchie) Station, IL: Moved Wabash Depot

Original Position: (Satellite, Elevator Road used to be further east and the depot and elevator were between the road and the tracks.)

The Blackhawk Railway Historical Society posted two photos with the comment:

The Wilmington Area Historical Society - Illinois is looking for someone who would like to take possession of the former Wabash Railroad's North Ritchie (Illinois) depot.

Ritchie is an unincorporated community in southern Will County, Illinois, United States. It is located along Forked Creek and Illinois Route 102, three miles southeast of Wilmington in Wesley Township.  

Ritchie is on the north bank of where the Wabash's Decatur-Chicago line crossed the Kankakee River.   The Wabash right of way through there is now part of the Wauponsee Glacial Trail.

The depot was preserved and moved from its original location to a farm in the area.  The farm's new owner is not interested in keeping the building and is working with the Wilmington Area Historical Society - Illinois to find the depot a new home.

All inquiries about the North Ritchie depot should go to William Weidling at  815-931-9079.

(Blackhawk Railway Historical Society has no financial or other interest in this property.  We only would like to see it preserved.)

Richard Fiedler shared

Richard Fiedler shared

The Blackhawk Railway Historical Society shared

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Richard Fiedler commented on the above post
In later days before the railroad sold it to the farmer for $50 and moved it to his farm. Later in its railroad life the depot was moved from North Ritchie to Ritchie. North Ritchie was later renamed Ballou after a former Wabash Official. North Ritchie(Ballou) was nothing more than a few houses and a grain elevator.

Richard Fiedler commented on the above post

Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post
This is the newest topo map that has the old route. 1892/1911 Wilmington Quad @ 62,500

Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post
This is the oldest topo map that has the new route. 1918/18 Wilmington Quad @ 62,500

Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post
This 1939 aerial photo is of what the 1918 map labelled as "Ritchey Sta." The buildings in the aerial are consistent with the photos in this post.

Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post
This is what Ballou looked like in 1939.

Dennis DeBruler commented on the above post
The grain elevator at Ritchey Station survived even though the railroad was removed. https://maps.app.goo.gl/xsb1uVum8ZcfPyoq5

Richard Fiedler: Dennis DeBruler aerial views over the general area still show the general line of the original route.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Richard's comment
Since the 1892 topo map shows me where to look, one can easily spot tree lines on the southern and northern part of the route. And I verified with a 1939 aerial photo that Wesley Road was built on the RoW. https://maps.app.goo.gl/dvF7jG5gMTThTf7y8 https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/webdocs/ilhap/county/data/will/flight17/0bxk03054.jpg

On the right, I included the two big tanks that I noticed in the satellite view. Do they hold fertilizer?

Street View, Oct 2022