Canton station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Along 4th Ave. between E. Elm St. and E. Chestnut St., Canton, Illinois
Area	less than one acre
Built	1914 (1914)
Built by	Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Architect	Swift, G.B., & Co.
NRHP reference No.	93000842
Added to NRHP	August 31, 1993

The Canton station is a very old and important train station in Canton, Illinois. It was built in 1914 by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad company. This station was a busy place for people traveling and for sending goods. It played a big role in connecting Canton to other places.

Canton's Historic Train Station

This station was the second one built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) in Canton. The CB&Q started serving the city in the early 1860s. At that time, there weren't many paved roads. So, the train station was super important for everyone.

A Busy Hub

The Canton station was a key spot for many people. Business travelers used it for trips. Families went on vacations from here. Even soldiers used it during World War I and World War II. In its early years, five passenger trains stopped here every day. Three ran during the day, and two ran at night.

The station also handled freight trains. These trains helped send out products made in the area. This included farming equipment and coal. The station was vital for the local economy.

End of an Era

Over time, roads got better and more people started using cars. This meant fewer people rode the passenger trains. The night trains were stopped in 1950. By 1961, all passenger train service to the station ended.

Freight service continued for a while longer. But it also stopped in 1980. By then, the CB&Q railroad had joined with another company to become the Burlington Northern. In 1989, the city of Canton bought the historic station from the railroad company.

A Special Landmark

The Canton station is a very special building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 31, 1993. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. Its official name on the Register is the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Station.

There are three other places in Canton that are also on the National Register. These include the Parlin Library, the Ulysses G. Orendorff House, and the Orendorf Site.