History

Hamilton County History The Last Depots

here are a few projects now in Hamilton County based around the preservation and reuse of old railroad depots, with work being done in places like Forest Park and Sheridan. While most railroad structures disappeared when the railroads were abandoned, it’s worthwhile to examine what is left. As railroads changed, older structures were considered liabilities and demolished as quickly as possible. Some communities got together and preserved the buildings by moving them. Ironically, in most cases, the railroad tracks are now gone and the depots are still there. The typical depot had a distinct layout. Most were known as “combination depots.” These had a passenger waiting room, a station agent’s office with a bay window to see along the railroad line, and a freight room. These are the structures organized by the railroad lines they served: NICKEL PLATE – this line came into the county in 1851 as the Peru and Indianapolis. There is only a small part left between Noblesville and Atlanta, which is used by the Nickel Plate Express tourist railroad. Hobbs Depot (Forest Park) – this was built in 1948 in Tipton County. It has no passenger waiting room, just the agent’s office and freight room. It was moved by the Indiana Transportation Museum in May 1968. The semaphore signal by the station was originally from Arcadia. The area is now being refurbished as the southern terminus of the Nickel Plate Express. Crossing Guard Shanty (Forest Park) – this originally stood at the northwest corner of Logan and 8th Streets near the present end of the track. This structure was probably built in the 1930’s, although a shanty had existed earlier at that site. It was taken out of use in 1965 and moved by ITM to Forest Park. It seems to have been altered as the present configuration looks different from early photographs.

Arcadia Depot – this was built in 1869, (some sources say 1875 or 1887), and is a classic combination depot. It was moved and restored by a community organization in 1972. It is now open as a museum and station for the Nickel Plate Express. MIDLAND RAILROAD – this line started as the Anderson, Lebanon, & St. Louis in 1871, and was later known as the Central Indiana. It reached Noblesville in 1877, was never very successful, and was finally abandoned in the 1980’s. (HCBM,

Arcadia Depot June/July 2011.) The only structures left are the iron truss bridges over White River and Cicero Creek. There is discussion about using them for the Midland Trace trail or the Pleasant Street bypass project.

The railroad first crossed the White River in 1886. The present bridge has a builder’s plate with a date of 1893. The bridge was damaged in the 1913 flood and extensive repair work was done. It is a sizable structure with an overall length of 375 feet, a 125-foot main span, is 30 feet to the top of the truss, and is 23 feet above the river channel.

White River bridge

Carmel Depot MONON RAILROAD – this line came into Hamilton County in 1882 and was abandoned in 1985. All of the existing depots are in the classic combination design. Carmel Depot – this was built in 1885, and was moved and restored by a community organization in 1980. It is presently the home of the Carmel Clay Historical Society and Museum. They are in the process of building a new structure next to the depot for their archives. Hortonville Depot – the building’s construction date is not certain, but

Hortonville Depot it would have been soon after the railroad came through in 1882. The building was moved by a private individual in 1970 for use on a farm. It is probably the structure on Lamong Road that was listed in the 1992 Historic Structures report. (However, the report says it was built in 1875, which is unlikely.) The report is the source of this photograph. The present situation of the building is unknown.

Sheridan Depot – this was built ca. 1882 with the arrival of the railroad. It was moved by a private individual in the 1980s for use on a farm in Boone County. Presently, the Sheridan Historical Society has started a project to move the structure back to town and restore it.

photo by Steve Martin

Sheridan Depot

Noblesville Depot INTERURBAN – this line ran between 1903 and 1938 and was first known as the Union Traction Company. Noblesville Depot – this was built in 1906 and is the largest depot in the county. It was designed according to standard company plans and has a duplicate in Tipton. Forest Park Shelter – this originally stood at the north end of the

Forest Park Shelter park as part of a complex that made veterinary medicines. The company closed and the area became the pool. The shelter was moved to its present site for use with the Tom Thumb Golf Course. It has recently gone through a substantial restoration, thanks to the Noblesville Preservation Alliance.

Cicero Depot Cicero Depot – this structure possibly predates the interurban and would have been adapted for reuse. Arcadia adapted a blacksmith shop, which was recently demolished.

Atlanta Depot Atlanta Depot – this was purposebuilt at another site along Central Avenue, which was the route of the Interurban. It was moved to the present site after the interurban was abandoned, and is now a private home. HCBM

Hidden History of Hamilton County by David Heighway is available at local book stores and from the publisher, Arcadia Publishing.

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