November 2010

Station Of The Month

M.P. 255.3 - 5th Subdivision - Ki

Location Of The Month

M.P. A28.1 - 3st Subdivision - DR

Wilders Junction, November 3, 1971. Looking north across the Erie Junction. John Strombeck photo, courtsey of the MRRHTS.

Wilders Station was established in 1889. The name was shortened to Wilders in 1894. According to a local story, it was named because it was located in the wilderness and may have been given the name of a local family. It has been known as Wilder's Crossing, Wilder's Junction and Wilder's Station. At one time a tavern sat on the west side of the Monon mainline, southwest of the diamond. The old depot once sat on the southwest quardrant of the junction.

  

Left and Right: Two excellent photos of Monon steam power on the Michigan City branch. Photo on left appears as if it was taken north of the crossing with the Erie. Train appears to be northbound. Photos from the Charles Huffer collection, identified as taken at Wilders. Courtsey of Kevin Ruble.

More Monon steam at Wilders. Locomotive # 227, one of the stalwarts of the steam fleet pictured at Wilders in 1937. The 4-8-0 was built in 1899 and remained on the roster until 1946.

BL2 #32 on a local freight, working the Michigan City Branch at Wilders. Year is 1956.

  

Left: Wilders Junction, March 28, 1977. Another view looking north across the Erie Junction. Tom Rankin photo, courtsey of the MRRHTS. Wilders Junction, March 28, 1977. Right: Another view looking west with the Monon diamonds in the foreground. In 2002, the old Erie signal tower has been removed. Tom Rankin photo, courtsey of the MRRHTS.

Looking east along the Erie at Wilders, October 6, 1976. Note cars on the interchange track.

  

Left: Wilders Junction, date unknown. Photo shows all the railroad buildings in and around the crossing with the Erie. Right: Another great shot of the crossing at Wilders. The caboose is on the Erie mainline. The tracks in the forground are those of the CA&S. The depot is to the left of the caboose. The tower is barely visible between the depot and the caboose. The Monon mainline crossed the Erie by the tower. The building on the right is the freighthouse. Bob Albert photos.

  

Wilders Junction. Left: May 5, 1973. L&N freight moves along the former Monon Michigan City branch. Right: Close up of the same locomotives crossing the diamond heading north to Michigan City. In the lead is L&N 2703, ex Monon 604.

"Wilders was once a town." These words were from Fred Jeffers, who lives in the house closest to the former junction. Just north of County Road 2150S. "Matter of fact, the front part of my house used to be the Wilder's Tavern. Course we have done some remodeling over the years. My parents lived here most of their lives. As a kid, I do remember the old steam engines. We moved back here after they passed away and decided to stay."

Wilders Junction, July 14, 2002. Fred Jeffers residence, formerly Wilders Tavern. Mainline was to the right. Depot once sat behind the house.

Wilders Junction, July 14, 2002. Abandoned right of way. Looking to the north from the crossing.

  

Former Junction. Left: Westbound on Erie from the crossing. The flower bed to the left of the photo, by the white trellis is the foundation of the old depot. Right: Erie mainline, looking east towards 421. An old concrete "outhouse" sat north of the tracks.

Fred was kind enough to give us a guided tour of what was left. Both the Monon and Erie right of ways are still visible. Fred's backyard has claimed most of the Erie right of way to the west of the junction. The rusted Erie signal tower is no longer. Fred said another property owner removed it a while back. Fred then showed off his wife's flower beds, which is the foundation of the old depot. "When we tried to dig it all out, I found another room where they stored coal, along the north foundation wall." he added. "To much trouble to rip out, so we just back filled and planted flowers."

The flower bed. I apologize for the picture quality. The foundation is more pronounced in person. The white line towards the center of the picture is part of the old foundation.

Wilders Junction July 2002. Abandoned right of way looking south towards Kankakee River and Riverside.

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