The TP&W Depot

The Toledo, Peoria & Western depot was a nerve center for Washington for decades.  Starting in 1857, trains began running on the line, and the line is still active today.  What is not still active today is a passenger depot in Washington.

The Chicago & Alton Railroad (C&A) constructed the original depot in 1866 on Wood Street, just south of the tracks. Wood Street did not cross the tracks at the time of horse and buggy. It only existed from Jefferson to Zinser. The depot, shared between two different railroads, the TP & W and the C&A, had a large platform traversing both railways.

In late 1902, it was reported that the TP&W would reconstruct the depot in a new spot, just north of the deteriorating original building, with bay windows facing the tracks.

On January 9, 1903, the original depot mysteriously burned down. 

For years, The TP&W had an old, ramshackle building, by courtesy known as a depot, which burned down over a year ago, not at all to the displeasure of the citizens.

Feb 27, 1904 Bloomington Pantagraph

In the short term, the TP&W used an old boxcar as a makeshift depot, which was wholly inadequate, but the plan was to get a new depot constructed quickly.  The hope was that if the two railroads could work together, they could quickly rebuild a nice brick depot.  That didn’t happen.

With the C&A dragging its feet well into 1903, the TP&W grew restless and decided to act alone.  The railroad purchased the lots on Peoria Street surrounded by the railroad and Wood Street, where Khoury’s Restaurant now sits.  They intended to build a depot on the south side of their track.

It was decided that the area south of the depot to Peoria Street would become a park surrounded by a low fence.  A large water tower would also be erected at the depot.  Here is a description of the depot from the 1904 Washington newspaper while it was under construction:

Unlike many depots, it has an irregular roof in Japanese style with two dormers to break the monotony of the long stretch.  This roof, which projects six feet beyond the walls on every side, is now being slated.  The sides are up, showing the form and size of the windows and one can get a very good idea of the new building.

The size is 105 by 31 feet, with the ladies waiting room in the east end, 29x18, separated from the men’s, which is 29x21, by the ticket office.

On the north side this office projects out in the form of a bay window where the telegraph operator will be stationed, having a good view up and down the track.  Just above the bay is one dormer window while the other is on the south or front of the building over an irregularity in the face of the building.  The rest or west end of the long building is occupied by the freight and baggage room and private room for train men.

The building has a stone foundation and is to be veneered with a four-inch course of brick, which will make it cool in summer and warm in winter besides giving it a substantial look.

After just a few years, the water tower was moved to the area where the park had been constructed at the corner of Wood and Peoria. It was torn down in 1937.

The depot continued to serve Washington, but as passenger rail service diminished through the 20th century, so did the use of the depot.  By 1967, the depot had become an abandoned building and the target of vandals, and the time had come for it to go.  The building was razed shortly after, and in 1973, the railroad sold the property to Hicks Service Station.