Trains used to play an important part of our nation’s transportation system and where there were trains, there were train depots. One of these depots was the 1881 Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific depot from Symerton, Illinois on the line from Chicago to Decatur. Although the depot hasn’t been used for years, the Will County Historical Society moved it board by board in 1979 to Lockport, Illinois, to be part of its Frontier Village. We first saw it during a long bike ride we took for our anniversary last September.
As you can see, the station’s exterior has been beautifully restored and painted and because this is a Thursday Doors post, here’s a close up of the simple, attractive door.
But wait! There’s more! Even on the frontier, there were schools and every school had at least one door.
This looks like a door with lots of potential behind it!
Last, but definitely not least, there was one door for a structure sometimes called, appropriately enough, the necessary. Let me make you privy to what that was.
If you’d like to be privy to more doors around the world, take the train to Montreal to visit Norm, our a-door-able host. Or, if you don’t have time for that, you can just click here. All aboard!!
This, that and the other thing 
I am so glad that these buildings have been preserved. They give such a poignant sense of the past.
I agree, Emma.
janet
We still have a privy at our summer house – not used anymore, though…Love doors up in the air, without steps to it!
Hopefully there were steps originally. 🙂 Our cabin still has on outhouse, although it’s not used.
janet
how interesting
I thought so, too, when we got there.
janet
Great doors, and some fun explanations. Janet. I love train stations, but the smokehouse door is my favorite today. Of course, I’m hungry for some burnt ends, but that’s another story.
We went to a Super Bowl party and the host had done brisket, pulled pork, burnt ends, and sugared? bacon. I ate way, way too much but those burnt ends were the first I’d had that were tender rather than burnt to a crisp.
Now, this is a post with a wonderful selection of doors allowing one to travel, learn, eat, or use the necessary room. Love it. 🙂
Thanks very much, Judy. And nary a snow drift in sight. 🙂
janet
A lovely tour, Janet. I’m with Dan concerning the smokehouse door. What delicious wonders have graced it’s insides?
Ω
Makes me hungry just to think about all of them, Allan.
Thanks for sharing! I’d never heard of this place before.
I didn’t know it was there, either, but it was right next to the bike path.
janet
Brilliant post, Janet. Lovely photos and very funny. 🙂
Thanks, Jean. I’m always glad when people get and appreciate the humor. 🙂 Happy Thursday.
Wish we had lovely train stations like that around here. We live right across the street from the train stop in our city and there is just a couple of machines enclosed with 3-sided walls. No friendly station master to sell us our tickets 😦 In fact, we have a card now like a credit card that we hold up to a scanner. So impersonal.
This one isn’t in use anymore, but the station in downtown Naperville (our city) is an older, brick station and still quite nice despite machines. But there is a window with a real person on the other side during the day.
janet
Introspective doors, Janet. We know where some of the doors lead. But what is story behind the others. Doors are an enigma. We would like to know all!
Part of the appeal, isn’t it? I really love the train depot and I’m quite glad not to have to go outdoors to use the necessary, especially in winter or at night! 🙂
They are all lovely but I’m particularly fond of that train station. Excellent shots Janet 🙂
Thanks, Norm. The station’s my favorite as well.
Well, those are ver lovely shots and nice doors, but I tell you what I thought was really cool, your little copyright motif sneaking into the pictures in unusual places… cool editing…
Thanks, Vicky, for all of those compliments and for stopping by as always.
janet
It’s so great that they’ve preserved it and so nicely too. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed them, Amy.
janet
I see that the depot used to be heated, there’s a chimney sticking out of the roof line. Lovely photos.
Thanks. Around here, it would have to be heated, especially in winter. 😉
janet
Great doors! Too bad there really wasn’t a steak or tritip ready for eatin at the Smokehouse door. 🙂
I’m glad they were able to preserve and save these buildings.
That would have a delicious surprise, Deborah, but alas, it was not to be. 🙂 I really enjoyed seeing the buildings, too.
janet
🙂
Old school door, just charming as all get out! 🙂
Merci beaucoup, Joey. 🙂
janet