This photo, taken from a second floor window, shows a large crowd gathered on both sides of the tracks with a train pulling into the station. While the roads, platform and train station are all at their current location, they are on flat ground. There are tracks to the east of the platform and railroad cars where the depot parking lot is today. Oliver Typewriter factory is in the distance on the right of the photo.
On the west side of the tracks, the old Chicago & Northwestern depot and American Express depot office (replaced in 1912) , plus the freight depot with more railroad cars lined up in front of it, can be seen.
On Washington street, the frame building with "Henry George Cigars" and OWL signs is identified in the 1905 Sanborn Fire Map as an implement dealer but was demolished before the 1914 city directory was published. Thos. Fox was listed as a blacksmith living at 847 Clay St. in 1914.The side of the Austin flats (130 Washington) can be seen along with a back balcony that has people watching the scene.]]> Persson, Gus]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1900-1920 notebook]]> James E. Erickson

Date and information found in Woodstock Sentinel August 18, 1904 p. 1



]]> "My name is James E. Erickson the son of Eugene Arthur Erickson 1-13-1912 to 7-26-1981 and the grandson of Arthur & Isabel Pierson Erickson."]]> In Photos 1900-1920 notebook
Black and white print]]> The depot is the building that was built in 1912. There are both autos and horses with buggies and wagons. The clothing is of the pre-WWI era and the cars are from the teens.

Buildings of Oliver Typerwriter and Woodstock Typewriter factories are visible as are the back views ofbuildings and sheds that were demolished for the Clay Street parking lot.

Wm. G. Hoffman postcard #724

Message on back is postmarked June 18, 1919]]> Wm. G. Hoffman, Chicago]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> It is not clear enough to determine if there is one track or two, so it is possible that it was taken before 1897 when the second half of the tunnel was completed.

A two story wooden house, since demolished, is on the left of the photo.

The South St. tunnel (culvert/viaduct) is a helicoidal or spiral stone arch. One part was completed in 1867 and the other (over the other train track) was finished in 1897.
Allen Stebbins, Chair of the Woodstock Historic Preservation Commission, provided this insight to the tunnel (or "Culvert"):
"The South St. Culvert as it has been called was built in two
sections. The first in 1867 when the Chicago & Northwestern built a single rail line out this way and the second section 30 years later in 1897 when they expanded to a second line. That's why the two dates on the keystones. I've started collecting some historic records on this bridge.
"What's unusual is both sections were built in what's known as a helicoidal or spiral arch method. These arches are extremely rare in the United States built when a road or railroad crossed another road or river at an angle and at an incline. It posed some real problems for the engineers who looked back to the ancient Romans for ideas to solve the problem and rediscovered the spiral arch! Basically all the engineering up front needed to be pretty precise and once designed the stonemasons cut all the stones exactly the same dimensions then laid them in the spiral arch (oftentimes without the need of any mortar.) These types of arches are extremely strong and durable as witnessed by some of the ancient Roman examples still standing.
"In the United States there are only a few known examples–some in Pennsylvania and the Seventh Street Improvement Arches in Minneapolis. These are listed as landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places. The South St. Culvert is in the historic district and I would like to see it nominated as a national landmark, but do know Union Pacific opposes it. They do have plans in the future to expand the rail lines to three from Barrington all the way out to Harvard when they ultimately put in the Woodstock rail yard. ..."
The tunnel is architecturally and historically significant. The tunnel should be designated a Landmark by the City of Woodstock and preserved, as is the Woodstock Opera House.
Note the City's motto: "True to its past...confident of its future." Will The People prevail in the case of preserving the tunnel, or will the tunnel meet the same fate as Grace Hall?" [Woodstock Advocate blog, Gus Philpott]
]]> Medlar Studios, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1850-1900 notebook]]>
Craig Pfannkuche, Archivist, C&NW Historical Society.

Modelle Medlar McCoy always identified this photo, taken by her grandfather J. S. Medlar, as one of the earliest train engines in Woodstock.]]> Medlar Studios, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe historical photos (copies and originals)]]> This view shows the Pabst Brewing Company and Ice House and the Jung Brewing Co. and Ice House behind and to the left of the Woodstock depot.
In the center of the background, the Oliver Typewriter factory buildings and smokestack are visible along with a faint view of very large Oliver Typewriter electric sign.
102 Washington St. Chicago & Northwestern RR depot and American Express Depot Office
Address for Pabst Brewing Co: end of Main near depots
Address for Jung Brewing Co: north of depots near Wheeler]]> Persson, Gus]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1900-1920 notebook]]>