Chesterton station (New York Central Railroad) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chesterton
New York Central Passenger Depot, Chesterton, Indiana (trackside)
Location	220 Broadway Chesterton, Indiana
Coordinates	41°36′41″N 87°3′16″W / 41.61139°N 87.05444°W / 41.61139; -87.05444
History
Opened	1924
Closed	1959
Former services
Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station Porter toward Chicago Main Line Burdick toward New York
New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Chesterton, Indiana
Area	less than one acre
Built	1914 (1914)
Built by	Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Architectural style	Bungalow/American Craftsman
NRHP reference No.	98001103
Added to NRHP	August 28, 1998

The Chesterton train station is an old train station located in Chesterton, Indiana. It's no longer used for passenger trains.

The first train station here was made of wood. It was built in 1852 for a company called the Northern Indiana and Chicago Railroad. This company later became part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. Sadly, the wooden station burned down in 1913.

A new station was built in 1914. This time, it was made of sturdy brick. Around this time, a very powerful railroad company, the New York Central Railroad, became interested in the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. The New York Central Railroad wanted to extend its lines from Buffalo all the way to Chicago.

So, on December 22, 1914, the New York Central Railroad officially joined with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. This created a much larger New York Central Railroad system. The new Chesterton station was part of this big change. The New York Central Railroad also built a separate building nearby for freight (goods transported by train) in the same year.

Passenger train service to Chesterton stopped in 1959. Later, in 1968, the New York Central Railroad merged with another big company, the Pennsylvania Railroad. This new company was called Penn Central. By 1976, Penn Central stopped all passenger services. Today, the train tracks near Chesterton are used by Norfolk Southern for freight trains.

What Does the Station Look Like?

The Chesterton Passenger Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's known for its unique architectural style.

Bungalow/American Craftsman Style

The National Register describes the station as being in the Bungalow/American Craftsman style. This style often features:

• Simple shapes
• Low, gently sloping roofs
• Large porches
• Strong brick pillars or wooden posts
• Roofs that hang over the edges (overhanging eaves)
• Natural building materials like wood, brick, stucco, or cobblestone

Spanish Eclectic Style

However, some local historical groups in Indiana describe the station as Spanish Eclectic. This style has different features, such as:

• Roofs made of clay tiles
• Walls covered in stucco
• Arches, especially over doors or windows
• Fancy entrances
• Decorative ironwork

There's a bit of a mystery about the exact building date. The National Register says 1914, but some local reports say 1924. It's possible the station was updated or changed in 1924, which might explain the different architectural styles mentioned. The freight building next to the station still looks like the Bungalow/American Craftsman style, which might have been the original look for both buildings.

Images for kids

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  New York Central Passenger Depot, Chesterton, Indiana (trackside)

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  New York Central Freight Depot, Chesterton, Indiana (trackside)

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  New York Central Freight Depot, Chesterton, Indiana