Dennison station facts for kids
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Pennsylvania Railroad Depot And Baggage Room
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 400 Center St., Dennison, Ohio |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built by | Pennsylvania Railroad |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001536 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 8, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | June 17, 2011 |
Dennison is home to a very special old train station in Dennison, Ohio. This historic building, known as the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, has a rich past. It was built a long time ago, between 1884 and 1900, with a baggage room added around 1912. The station served both Dennison and a nearby town called Uhrichsville, Ohio.
Contents
The Dennison Train Station's History
Building a Community Hub
The Dennison train station was an important place for many years. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, a very big railway company. The station helped people travel and goods move between towns.
A Special Role in World War II
The Dennison Depot became famous during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, it hosted the Dennison Depot Salvation Army Servicemen's Canteen. This canteen was a place where soldiers traveling on troop trains could get free refreshments.
How the Canteen Started
A local woman named Lucille Nussdorfer had the idea for the canteen. The Salvation Army and a group of local citizens helped make it happen. Captain Edward Johnson from the Salvation Army led the effort.
Serving Millions of Soldiers
Dennison was a "division point" for the Pennsylvania Railroad. This meant every train had to stop there. The canteen volunteers promised to serve every single soldier who passed through. Over the years, they served an amazing 1.3 million soldiers! This was about 13% of all U.S. forces at the time.
The Volunteers and Their Impact
About 4,000 volunteers, mostly women from the area, worked at the canteen. It became the third-largest Salvation Army canteen in the entire country. Soldiers loved the Dennison canteen. It was even written about in newspapers far away. Soldiers gave Dennison the nickname "Dreamsville, U.S.A." This name came from a popular song by Glenn Miller.
From Historic Station to Museum
The Dennison train station is recognized as a very important historical site. On September 8, 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Later, on June 17, 2011, it was named a National Historic Landmark.
Today, the old station is no longer a working train stop. Instead, it is a local history museum called the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. Visitors can learn all about its past, especially its role during World War II.
Images for kids
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The historic Dennison Railroad Depot.
