The Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot is the former Mobile and Ohio Railroad station serving Murphysboro, Illinois. Built in 1888, the station was the largest on the Mobile and Ohio line between St. Louis, Missouri and Cairo, Illinois. The station was probably designed by Philip N. Frew, a railroad employee who designed several other prominent buildings in Murphysboro. The railroad provided a benefit to Murphysboro's economy in several ways. The city's business and entertainment district developed around the station, which brought passengers and workers to the city. The railroad also exported the produce and fruit grown by Murphysboro's agriculture industry. In addition, the repair shops adjacent to the station employed over 500 workers. The Tri-State Tornado destroyed the shops and roundhouse at Murphysboro, but the depot survived the storm.[2]

Mobile and Ohio Railroad Depot
Murphysboro station is located in Illinois
Murphysboro station
Murphysboro station is located in the United States
Murphysboro station
Location1701 Walnut St., Murphysboro, Illinois
Coordinates37°45′51″N 89°20′31″W / 37.76417°N 89.34194°W / 37.76417; -89.34194
Area0.2 acres (0.081 ha)
Built1888 (1888)
ArchitectFrew, Philip N.
NRHP reference No.84000317[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1984

The depot closed in 1977, by which time the railway had become part of the Illinois Central system.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Nast, Jo Anne (July 12, 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Mobile & Ohio Railroad Depot" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
Preceding station Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad Following station
Etherton
toward Mobile
Main Line Oraville
toward St. Louis