Richardsonian Romanesque Train Station Closed in 1971 and is now Serves Amtrak

Dwight Chicago and Alton Railroad Depot, Dwight Illinois

Date added: February 18, 2026

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History of the Depot

The Dwight Depot, built in 1891 was designed by Chicago Architect, Henry Ives Cobb, and was based on a Richardsonian Romanesque style. Mr. Cobb also designed the first buildings of the University of Chicago, the Newberry Library, the Chicago Post Office, and other well-known buildings.

The old depot was a one and a half story, 16x24 foot frame building was erected in 1854. A much larger depot was needed for the increasing traffic. The Keeley Gold Cure Co., run by Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, had about 300 patients in town end more were coming from all around the country by train to Dwight.

The Dwight Business Men's Association, organized in May, 1891, including Chas. L. Romberger, David McWilliams, Dr. Leslie Keeley, John Oughton, Col. Morgan, Major Judd, met in Dwight with Chicago and Alton Railroad officials.

Following much discussion, Pres. Blackstone of the C&A stated that if the Keeley Co. stayed in Dwight "an engineer would be sent here to make a survey and draft plans for the requested improvements". The new passenger station "Finest on the Alton Road between Chicago and St. Louis" was completed and open for inspection in March, 1892.

The Dwight Depot was visited over the years by special people including Eugene V. Debs in 1893, William J. Bryan in 1896, Countess Shimmelman of Denmark in 1899, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt stopped and spoke and pushed a button at the depot that lit the lights of the new Livingston Hotel.

The rail line and depot were owned by the Chicago and Alton Railroad Co. until 1947, when the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Railroad took over ownership. Then in 1972 the G.M.& O merged with the Illinois Central and became the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Company.

Trains no longer stop in Dwight so the depot is just used as a storage and office space for workmen. The Dwight Depot, while being in only fair condition, is one of the few railroad stations left on the Illinois Central Gulf line between Chicago an St. Louis showing architecture of the 1890's.

The station closed in 1971 and was used for storage for several years. It is currently in use by Amtrak.

Building Description

The Chicago and Alton Depot is located in the center of the village of Dwight, Illinois, Livingston county.

The depot is of rectangular shape 75 feet long and 25 feet wide, with an 18 foot wide concrete platform surrounding it.

On each end is a canopy extension of 30 feet. Designed by Henry Ives Cobb, it is based on a Richardsonian Romanesque style and was built in 1891.

The original gabled roof with the hipped canopy extensions was of slate. The foundation is of Joliet stone. The building proper is of Bedford blue stone from Indiana. The Bedford stone is composed almost entirely of shells which you can see by looking very closely using a magnifying glass.

There are two main sables extending out from each side of the depot with four double-hung windows on the ground floor. There are two coupled windows with a fanlight over sash; one on the second floor with facing stone above the fanlight with DWIGHT carved in it. On the top of each gable is a Quatrefoil ornament.

There are five doors with lights located above each door, two each on the east and west sides and one on the south side. There are a total of 20 windows and all but four have lights over then.

The whole inside was finished originally in oak with an oil finish and furniture to match. There were two waiting rooms, one at each end with a fire place in each room. The ticket office was in the middle of the waiting rooms. The ceilings in the waiting rooms were of Cathedral style with open rafters and oak wainscoting on the ceiling. The roadmaster had a desk on the second floor.

In 1946 the interior was remodeled to some extent. The fireplace in the north end waiting room was torn out. The ticket office was made smaller and the entire interior was painted a tan and light brown combination. Also, the old slate roof was replaced at this time with mule hide sheeting. All new fixtures were put in both rest rooms and new fluorescent lights were installed.

Since 1946 there has been a false ceiling added, a gas furnace installed, and a shed added under the south canopy.

Just south of the depot is the stone freight office that was built about 1892 or 1893.

Since the last train stopped in May, 1971, the maintenance has been neglected. It is now being used as an office and storage Space by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. There are several broken windows and a new roof is needed.