Bardwell station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Illinois Central Railroad Station and Freight Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
A train arrives at the station, circa 1910
Location in Kentucky Show map of Kentucky Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Front St., Bardwell, Kentucky
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1890 (1890)
Architect	Illinois Central Railroad
NRHP reference No.	76000860
Added to NRHP	July 19, 1976

The Bardwell station was an important old train station in Bardwell, a city in western Kentucky. It was built in the late 1800s along a main railroad line. This station was a busy place for people living nearby. It was also a key spot for the railroad to keep its trains running.

In 1976, the station was named a historic site because of its simple, useful design. Sadly, the building is no longer standing today.

A Hub for Bardwell: The Train Station's Story

A caboose by the site of the depot, seen in 2013

When the Illinois Central Railroad first came to Bardwell in the 1870s, trains stopped at a temporary "camp car." Soon after, a proper station was built around 1875. This first building quickly became the heart of the community.

When Bardwell officially became a city in the late 1870s, its borders were drawn as a circle. This circle was centered exactly on the train station! This shows how important the station was to the town.

In 1890, the railroad built a new station to replace the first one. This second station was also right in the middle of Bardwell. The city's streets were even planned to run parallel to the railroad tracks. This put the station at the center of the town's small business area.

By this time, the Bardwell station was very important for the railroad too. As early as 1885, it was known as one of the best Illinois Central stations in the area. It became a major center for trading grain and livestock. Trains often stopped here to get water, as Bardwell was on the main line between Chicago and New Orleans. The big Cairo Rail Bridge over the Ohio River was just a short distance north.

Many local people remember that Alben W. Barkley, who became the Vice President of the United States, would often start his train trips back to Washington, D.C., from this very station.

The railroad and the town worked together in many ways. The Illinois Central even had a special part of its business that sold seeds to farmers. The Bardwell station hosted special trains that showed off the newest farm products. The station kept serving as both a place to show seeds and a busy transportation hub for many years. However, by the 1970s, the railroad stopped using the station.

What Did the Station Look Like?

The second Illinois Central station in Bardwell looked like many small-town train stations from the late 1800s. It was built in a simple rectangle shape without many fancy decorations. It had large doors and windows. The roof was a hip roof (sloping on all sides) with wide edges and simple supports. There was also a loading dock with ramps for moving freight.

There were only a few parts that weren't a simple rectangle. A signal tower was added after the station was first built. There was also a special bay window that stuck out. This window helped railroad workers inside the station get a better view of the trains.

The walls were covered with clapboard siding, but in an unusual way. Horizontal boards were placed in the middle of the building on all sides. The rest of the building was covered with vertical boards. Inside, part of the station was used to store vehicles for railroad maintenance.

Saving a Piece of History

Site of the station in 2013

After the railroad stopped using the station, people in Bardwell wanted to save it. In the 1970s, they suggested turning it into a library and museum. This was partly because by 1976, all other historic Illinois Central stations between Cairo and Fulton, Kentucky had been torn down.

In 1976, the Bardwell station received special recognition. On June 16, the National Park Service announced that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed as the Illinois Central Railroad Station and Freight Depot. It earned this honor because of its important role in local history and as a good example of vernacular architecture (a common, local building style).

Even though it was historically important, the station is no longer standing. Its location is now an empty lot next to the railroad tracks. However, it is still listed on the National Register. It is one of five places in Carlisle County on the Register. The others are the Neville-Patterson-Lamkin House, the George W. Stone House, and two ancient archaeological sites called the Marshall and Turk Sites.