Bloomington freight station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Illinois Central Railroad Freight Depot
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Front and southern end
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 301 N. Morton St., Bloomington, Indiana |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Illinois Central Railroad staff architects |
| Architectural style | Functional Industrial |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000113 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1983 |
The Bloomington freight station is a historic train station in downtown Bloomington, Indiana, United States. It was built a long time ago, in the early 1900s. Even though it closed and changed a few times, it's still standing and is now a special historic place. For many years, it wasn't used much. But today, it's a very important building in a big historic area on the west side of the city.
History of the Freight Depot
Why Was the Depot Built?
Back in the 1890s, the Monon Railroad already had trains running through Bloomington. They even had repair shops for their trains on the south side of the city. But the people of Bloomington wanted another railroad to serve their city.
In 1902, two parts of Bloomington, Bloomington Township and Perry Township, offered a lot of money to any company that would build a second train line. Four years later, the Illinois Central Railroad took up this offer. After they finished building their tracks into the city, they decided to build a station just for moving goods.
Who Designed It?
The railroad's own architects designed the building. It was a simple building, made to be useful without any extra fancy parts. Its design was based on what the railroad needed to move freight efficiently.
From the very beginning, this depot was important for Bloomington's big industries. Many limestone factories and the large Showers Brothers furniture factory were very close to it.
How the Building Changed Over Time
When it was first built, the depot was a simple rectangle. It was about 163 feet long and 35 feet wide. In 1922, the building got much bigger. A second floor was added to most of it.
However, in 1959, the northern part of the building was removed. This happened because less freight was being moved by train, so a smaller building was needed. The depot closed completely in 1963.
After closing, the building became a restaurant. That restaurant later closed, leaving the building empty for a while. Another restaurant, Macri's at the Depot, opened there by 2012. Today, a private company uses the building for office space.
What Does the Depot Look Like?
Building Materials and Shape
The depot is a rectangular building made of wood. It sits on a strong concrete base. Because its main job was to move goods between wagons and train cars, the ground floor is about 3 feet higher than the street.
When it was built, the depot was 35 feet wide (east to west) and 163 feet long (north to south). But after the changes in 1959, it became only 109 feet long. The outside of the building has simple wooden boards called clapboarding. It has a roof with a gentle slope, covered in asphalt shingles.
Special Roof Features
On both the street side (east) and the train track side (west), the roof sticks out about 7.5 feet past the building's edge. This was to protect the areas where goods were loaded and unloaded from rain or sun. This part of the roof is quite special. The wooden rafters and braces that support the roof were left uncovered, which is an interesting design choice.
Inside the Depot
Large doors allow access to the big rooms inside where freight was handled. These rooms get light from both windows and skylights. The southern end of the station had office space and a waiting room for business people.
When the second floor was added, the roofline changed. A hip roof was created over the new second story. However, the original first-story overhang for the loading zones was kept.
Why It Looks Simple
This depot was built for freight, not passengers. So, it was designed only to be efficient. You won't find any unnecessary decorations on the building. It was built using a standard design from the railroad's architects, not a unique plan by local builders. Because of this, the station doesn't have a specific, fancy architectural style. Other than the 1922 expansion and the 1959 reduction, the building hasn't changed much from its original design.
Why Is It Important Today?
A Historic Landmark
In 1983, the building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was called the "Illinois Central Railroad Freight Depot." It earned this special status because of its important role in Bloomington's history. It was very significant for the city's furniture and limestone industries.
Part of a Bigger Historic Area
A large part of Bloomington's west side was also named a historic district in 1997. This area is called the Bloomington West Side Historic District. It includes about four hundred historic buildings. The Illinois Central Depot is one of the most important buildings in this district. This is mainly because it's the only railroad-related building left in the area. The Illinois Central Railroad used to have many other train stations, engine houses, and turntables nearby. But by 1987, only the freight depot remained.
