Illinois Traction Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Illinois Traction Building
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 41 E. University Ave., Champaign, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1913 |
| Built by | McKinley, William B. |
| Architect | Royer, Joseph |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003782 |
| Added to NRHP | September 20, 2006 |
The Illinois Traction Building is a historic building in Champaign, Illinois. It was once the main office for the Illinois Traction System. This was a special type of train system called an interurban railroad. It connected cities in Central Illinois.
The building was constructed in 1913. It held the railway's offices and was the train station for Champaign. Later, it became home to the Illinois Power Company. This company grew out of the original Illinois Traction System. The building was designed by architect Joseph Royer. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 2006.
A Look Back: The Building's History
The Illinois Traction System was started by William B. McKinley. He began buying and updating local streetcar lines. In 1902, the first interurban train line opened. It ran between Champaign and St. Joseph. By 1911, the system connected many big cities in Central Illinois. It even reached St. Louis, Missouri.
The company built the Illinois Traction Building in 1913. It replaced their old station in Champaign. The new building was in a central spot. It also had plenty of office space for the company. In 1928, the Illinois Traction System became part of the Illinois Terminal Railroad. The part of the company that handled electricity became the Illinois Power and Light Company. They kept their offices in the Traction Building.
Train service to the building stopped in 1936. A new owner replaced the train lines with bus service. Interurban trains still served Champaign, but they used a different station. The building continued to house the utility company. This company later became known as the Illinois Power Company. They stayed in the building until 1985.
Building Style: Architecture Details
Architect Joseph Royer designed the Illinois Traction Building. He used a modern commercial style for the design. This building was different from his earlier work. He usually designed buildings in older styles, like Romanesque.
The building has three stories. It is made of red brick. It also has special decorations made of terra cotta. Four tall piers divide the front of the building. These piers split the front into three sections, called bays. The two sections on the sides are slightly curved.
Terra cotta medallions sit on top of each pier. There are also decorated shields on the piers. These shields mark the top of the first floor. The windows on each floor have terra cotta sills and lintels. The building's original terra cotta cornice is gone. It has been replaced with a white brick pediment.
