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Summary
Belleville Illinois Central Railroad Depot
109 South Park Street, Bellevillle, Dane County
Date of Construction: 1888
The Belleville Illinois Central Railroad Depot was built in 1888 as a “combination” depot, serving both passengers and freight. The railroads erected combination depots, typically using a standard plan, in numerous small and medium-sized communities across the United States between the 1880s and the 1930s. The Belleville Depot also represents the history of rail transportation in Belleville. The arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad sparked Belleville’s development as a regional center for shipping cheese, milk, and other agricultural products. Passenger service ended in 1931, and freight service was transferred to another location in 1943.
The Belleville Illinois Central Railroad Depot is set on a diagonal, parallel to the Badger State Bike Trail, which runs along the former bed of the Illinois Central Railroad just west of the depot. The depot is a long, cream brick building with segmental-arched windows and doorways. The gable roof has broad overhangs to shelter passengers and baggage from the rain, and is embellished with oversized wooden brackets. A polygonal bay on the rail side of the depot marks the ticket office, near the middle of the building. The polygonal bay allowed the agent to see trains arriving and departing without venturing outside. The baggage room is on the south side of the ticket office, and the waiting room is on the north side. A door on either end of the narrow, Pearl Street façade opens into the waiting room. Wood wainscoting and decorative window surrounds in the waiting room have been preserved.
The village of Belleville plans to rehabilitate the depot for use as a trail head on the Badger State Bike Trail.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event,Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Transportation,Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1888-1943,1888 |
| Architectural Style | Italianate |
| Architect | |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Rail-Related |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Aug 19, 2016 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Dec 6, 2016 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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