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One of Galena’s best known landmarks is the Illinois Central Railroad Depot located at 101 Bouthillier Street.

This site was originally occupied by a cabin built in 1818 by John Tyler Armstrong. Some say it was the first recorded permanent home on the Fever River. That same year, Illinois was admitted into the Union. The following year, Francis Bouthillier, a French trader, took over the Armstrong shanty and started a trading post by the river. Bouthillier is credited with being the first permanent resident of Galena. The city paid homage to him by naming “Bouthhillier Street” in his honor. Bouthillier established the first local ferry across the Fever River at the foot of what is now Bouthillier Street. Later, he built a toll bridge at the bottom of this street. Bouthillier was married to a Native American woman. He passed away in 1832 and is buried in the Old City Cemetery on Quality Hill, between High and Dodge Streets. At that time the river was three hundred forty feet wide and three to four feet deeper than the main channel of the Mississippi. The ferry operated until 1847. In the photos you can see some pictures of early ferries, including a horse drawn ferry.

In 1836, plans started for the development of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company. However, it was a number of years before any track was laid. At first, Galena had shunned the railroad, believing the waterways would be enough to sustain the town as a transportation and commercial hub. City leaders did not want a railroad bridge across the Galena River near the downtown area, which they felt would be a hindrance to river traffic. The people who ran Galena seemed to feel that the town could not be both a rail center and a major river port. Since many of these men had major investments in steamboat lines and other river-oriented commercial enterprises, they “chose” the river over the railroad. As a result, the Illinois Central ultimately made Dunleith (now East Dubuque), rather than Galena, its terminus east of the Mississippi—and later built a bridge to Dubuque. Galena’s rejection of the railroad’s offers prompted one prominent Galenian, Hezekiah Gear, himself a wealthy mine owner and steamboater, to declare, “Gentleman, you have sounded your death knell, grass will grow in your streets, you have ruined your town.”

Thus, the freight trains made their way through to Dubuque, Iowa, which soon became the busy metropolis that Galena could have been.

Because of Galena’s refusal to accommodate the Illinois Central Railroad, and because the surface mines were eventually depleted, the city has never regained its Pre-Civil War prosperity; the days of steamboating and the glory of historical Galena departed.

Eventually Galena would be connected via a spur from a rail line that ran from Chicago to East Dubuque, the same rail line that the town had initially declined to have run through the city.

The Illinois Central’s “Iron Horse” first thundered into Galena on November 8, 1854. This marked the end of Galena’s “steamboat” days. Even though the DeSoto House was not yet open for business, the town celebrated the coming of the railroad by holding a large banquet in the DeSoto House’s grand dining room, serving somewhere between five to eight hundred people. Chicago Mayor Isaac Lawrence Milliken, along with twelve of his aldermen, participated in the festivities. The program included supper, band music, and an address by Illinois Central President J.M. Douglas. One of the toasts of the evening was, “To Galena—the Commercial Metropolis of the Northwest—nothing can retard her march to prosperity and greatness.”

Three years after the arrival of the Illinois Central, in 1857, the current train depot was built at 101 Bouthillier Street. The I.C.R.R. Depot was constructed at a cost of $8,000. This new passenger depot fronted forty-eight feet on the railroad track side and thirty-six feet on Bouthillier Street. A platform extended around three sides of the Depot. The grand Italianate two-story brick building is symmetrical in shape and has a low-pitched roof with wide overhanging eaves and heavy, decorative brackets. Another obvious Italianate feature is the two small square cupolas you see on the roof. Originally there were sky lights in the roof. The unusual dormer windows on the upper level have arched hood moldings. The Front and North sides of the Depot are ornamented by a stylish porch, supported by iron brackets. The lower level contained the Baggage Room, Ticket Office, and Gentlemen’s Parlor. These areas could be entered from the track side of the building.

The Depot also had a Ladies Parlor with its entrance located on the Bouthillier Street side. The parlors were fitted with cushioned seats and lit with gas burners; twelve burners on the first story and eight on the second story. The upper story contained six rooms which housed the Spaulding family. Mr. Spaulding was the Freight Agent of the Illinois Central Railroad.

With the onslaught of the Civil War, railroads became instrumental to the war efforts. The Union had considerably more railroads than the Confederacy and thus was able to quickly and efficiently move troops and supplies. On Thursday, April 25, 1861, the Jo Daviess Guards, a group of local volunteers, were ready to leave Galena for Springfield, Illinois. An immense crowd of people gathered to bid farewell to the recruits. The procession moved down Main Street and when it reached the corner of Main and Green Streets, it was halted. A brief ceremony took place in which a beautiful silk flag was presented to the company. At this point Captain Grant fell in at the left and rear of the company and marched with the flag across the bridge to the Galena Railroad Depot. The mayor made a patriotic speech after which Rev. John H. Vincent (minister of the Methodist Church where Grant attended) delivered an address filled with patriotic and Christian sentiments. Thousands of hats and ‘kerchiefs’ waved as the train full of soldiers finally left the station and cheers rang out in the evening air.

When the Civil War ended, Grant triumphantly returned to Galena on Friday, August 18, 1865, as a victorious General. Cannons boomed, bands played, and the town was filled with excitement! Ten thousand people from all over the country were waiting excitedly at the Depot to welcome their hero home. Special boats and trains brought people to participate in the celebration. It was Galena’s largest celebration of the time.

Carriages transported the General and his family and friends from the train depot to the Triumphal Triple Arch which spanned Main Street adjacent to the DeSoto Hotel. On one side of the triple arch was inscribed, ”Hail To the Chief Who In Triumph Advances,” and on the other, ”Welcome to Our Citizen.” A platform was erected near the arch and here the General was seated, surrounded by the Reception Committee and other prominent citizens.

Twenty-five thousand people gathered in Galena that day for the celebrations. There were deafening cheers, to attest their admiration of the nation’s idol. A band of music played national airs, flags were displayed from the buildings, and the enthusiasm was most intense. After the cheers had subsided and order was resumed, Congressman E. B. Washburne made a speech of welcome that was enthusiastically received. General Grant then rose to speak, “My friends and fellow citizens of the City of Galena, I am truly glad to meet you at this time and I have requested Mr. Vincent, who came with me on the train, to return to you my very sincere thanks for this demonstration.” Rev. Vincent stated that the General had returned to Galena as to his home, noting that Grant regards Illinois as the state of which he is a citizen, and where he will, as a citizen, cast his vote. The reverend went on to explain that the reason Grant never made speeches was that it was not his habit, and that it was also inconsistent with his inclination to make public addresses, and that this must be his excuse for not responding to the innumerable calls made upon him by his too partial countrymen.

Following Rev. Vincent’s speech, the procession resumed its march through the principal streets of the city. An evergreen arch had been erected at the intersection of Main and Hill Streets. Suspended from this arch were the words, “General: The Sidewalk is Built.” (The arch can be seen in the photo.) This proclamation related to the 1864 election in which General Grant’s name was mentioned as a possible presidential candidate. One source states that when the idea was suggested to Grant, he replied that he had no political ambitions other than to be mayor of Galena long enough to fix the sidewalks, especially the one leading to his house. The sidewalk was built leading to a new house on Bouthillier Street, a home given to the victorious general by the citizens of Galena.

The Chicago Journal wrote the following account of the special train used for Grant’s return: “The train consisted of the most elegant coaches ever seen by any railway. The rear coach, which contained Gen. Grant and family, was most luxuriously furnished. All of the seats had been taken out, and the interior of the car fitted up in a truly superb and tasteful manner. Rich carpets covered the floor, and costly articles of furniture were disposed about this extemporized parlor. Elegant sofas, ottomans, easy chairs, a marble top table, and other stylish pieces of furniture of the most costly description completed the charming picture. The engine was a large and elegant structure, which was recently built in the company’s shop, and was decorated with flags, flowers, and evergreens festooned and wreathed in the most artistic manner. The “Bartholomew,” for such was the name of this beautiful locomotive, was driven by Mr. H. W. Barnes, one of the most competent engine drivers in the country, assisted by Mr. Watson.”

Years later, when General Grant was elected President, he once again departed from the Galena Depot in order to take up residency in Washington DC.

In 1866, improvements were made to the depot. The partition between the ladies waiting room and ladies dressing room was torn out. Plaster was torn off every room in the building and the walls were wainscoted four feet from the floor and grained in an imitation of oak. The top part of the walls were plastered and covered with oak wallpaper. New floors were laid in every room. The sofas were replaced and two $70 chandeliers were hung in the waiting room. A $150 patent ticket case, new business desk, chairs, and fire proof safe were also added. The second floor rooms were painted and repaired. The total cost of the repairs was $2,600, and the new furniture cost a staggering $900.

The railroad depot had become more than just a travel station; it was also a social gathering site. People arriving or departing Galena gathered together to discuss many of the local and national news events. And like many other railroad towns, Galena had a number of people employed as “baggage men” to assist all of these travelers. They were usually stationed along Main Street in front of the principal hotels or near the Illinois Central Railroad Depot. Their job was to assist people with the transfer of the mail, baggage, and other personal items from the depot to other locations about town. Their main mode of travel was by horse and wagon as this was before the age of the automobile, as seen in the photo.

In the early 1900’s, there were four railroads with rights to use the railroad tracks through Galena. They were the Illinois Central, Chicago & Northwestern, Chicago Burlington & Northern, and the Chicago Great Western. The last passenger train departed from the Depot in 1972.

I have included photos of various trains that made their way through Galena, along with a couple of derailment photos.

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

The safe pictured above can still be found in the building today.

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

Pictured is a locomotive for the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad in 1852.Courtesy

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

Pictured is a blank stock certificate for the Galena & Chicago Union Rail Road Company.

(Courtesy Terry Miller)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This was a receipt for the purchase of stock for the Galena and Chicago Union Rail Road Company, from August 8, 1848.

(Courtesy Terry Miller)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

Pictured above is a map of the Galena & Chicago Railroad.

(Courtesy Terry Miller)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

These three men were standing on the Railroad Tracks on the East Side, with the photo looking northwest towards Galena, Illinois, during one of Galena's floods.

On the left you can see a small portion of the Burlington Railroad Bridge, followed by the Customs House/ Post Office, on the corner of South Commerce and Green Street.

Just beyond the Post Office, you can see a small part of the Burlington Hotel, with a portion of the sign above the door that reads "$1 per day." In 1924 William McBoyle (1888-1949) from Wisconsin, purchased the old Burlington Hotel, tore it down, and built the first Gas Station in Galena. Mr McBoyle later moved to Iowa, where he became a pilot and operated a small airport there.

The next building is the the old Burlington Railroad Depot, followed by the Green Street Bridge.

Glass negative photo - May 1911

(Photo and information courtesy Terry Miller)

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Galena Daily Gazette

3 July 1912

City Attorney Will Notify Railroads (excerpt)

The Burlington road will be requested …… to construct and maintain sanitary toilets in the waiting rooms of the depot. (Pictured in photo below.)

(Article courtesy Tim Doser)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This photo was taken from Park Avenue, Galena, Illinois, looking northwest, in the 1940s.

The Illinois Central Railroad Depot can be seen in the lower right hand side, with the Burlington Railroad Bridge behind it. To the left of the bridge is the DeSoto House Hotel.

In the upper left hand side you will see the Old High School, with the gymnasium to the right of the school.

Photo - circa 1940s

(Photo and Description Courtesy Terry Miller)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This group of folks gathered near the Illinois Central Train Depot, 101 Bouthillier Street, Galena, Illinois, for the ground-breaking ceremony, for flood control on the Galena River. This was the beginning of the building of the levee, and the flood gates in Galena.

The Galena High School Band is there to preform for the ceremony, along with the dignitaries on the stage by the Illinois Central Freight House.

You cannot see the Train Depot on the right, but you can see a sliver of the building that Otto's Café is located in, at 100 Bouthillier.

On the left you can see the Burlington Railroad Bridge, with the Post Office located on the other end of the bridge.

Photo - October 20, 1948

(Photo and information Courtesy Terry Miller)

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This photo was taken in East Galena, near the train station, looking west.

Joe Brown, driving the buggy, was one of the baggage men in Galena in the late 1890s. He would often pick up folks at the train station and take them, and their baggage, to wherever they need to go.

Joe Brown was born in Ireland, and came to Galena at about the age of twenty-six. He was the Desoto Hotel baggage man since the hotel opened, into the 20th century. In 1856 he was also awarded the contract for carrying the mail between the post office and the RR depots. He married in 1856 and died in 1909. He is buried in St. Michael Cemetery.

You can see the Old High School on the hill, across the Galena River. This school burnt to the ground in April 1904. The folks of Galena replaced the school building the next year and it was used as a school for the next 75 years. That building is now called the Galena Green, and consists of 24 condos.

Photo - circa 1890s.

( Information about photo courtesy Terry Miller and Tim Doser)

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

Pictured above is a locomotive belonging to the CB&Q RR, as shown under the engineer's hand, that ran from Chicago to East Dubuque. Galena was connected via a spur from this rail line. Coincidentally, this was the same rail line that the town had initially declined to have run through the city.

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

People in Excursion car.

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

Illinois Central work train East of Galena.

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

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(Thank you Terry Miller for sharing the following information and picture!)

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This was the Signal Switch Tower, for the Burlington and Illinois Central Railroads, located south of Galena, Illinois, on the east side of the Galena River, across from the Railroad Bridge.

You can see the Marine Hospital, off on the right, in the background.

The Signal Switch Tower was removed in 1944.

Photo - circa 1900.

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(The following articles are courtesy Tim Doser)

The first two articles refer to the steps in the background, left side of photo of the Signal Switch Tower..…

Galena Daily Gazette

14 November 1913

Flight of Steps Takes Flight

Alderman Gerlich Seeking Party Who Stole city Stairway

Paul F. Gerlich, alderman of the First ward had been busy for the past few days looking for a flight of steps that was stolen from Rives street at the Park avenue intersection. A number of the neighbors in the vicinity were the first to miss the flight of steps and complained to Mr. Gerlich with the request that he hunt them up and return them to their proper place. The alderman is slightly inclined to believe that he has a clue that will lead to the finding of the stolen steps, and also who had hands in spiriting them away.

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Galena Daily Gazette

15 November 1913

Steps Mystery Solved

East Side Stairway was Removed by Street Commissioner Wearmouth

It is not necessary for the alderman of the First ward, Paul W. Gerlich to search any further for the valuable steps that were supposed to have been stolen from the Rives street at the Park avenue intersection. Another proof that it pays to advertise in the Gazette. The guilty party has confessed to the spiriting away of the flight of stairs. Street Commissioner J. E. Wearmouth is guilty. He had the steps hauled away, but upon orders from the proper authorities, as the steps in question were in too poor a condition to be repaired. At present they are under lock and key in the steam roller shed on Hill street.

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Galena Advertiser

28 December 1944

Old Galena Signal Tower is Removed by Railroad

The tower at the junction of the Illinois Central and Burlington railroad tracks in Galena was dismantled and torn down last weekend, just about completing the work of modernization of railroad property at that intersection.

The tower, used by he railroads in the days when the Burlington ran passenger trains to and from the Galena Junction, has been used only at times by switchmen when freight comes into Galena on the Burlington.

Regular tower service was discontinued in 1925. John Ivory, Edward Kane and Edward Gallagher were the last telegraph operators to be regularly employed there.

Electrically operated gates which operate at the control of C. B. & Q. switchmen are now used, having recently been installed.

Other modernization work at the same location was the dismantling of machinery and destruction of the building housing pumping and water purifying machinery used by the I. C. trains. A new automatic system is now in operation.

(The above articles are courtesy Tim Doser)

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This is the CB&Q (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) Railroad Depot at Galena Junction, south of Galena, Illinois, near the Mississippi River, in about 1915.

At Train Depots, you will often see the water tanks, as they were needed for the Steam Locomotives. You might also see the piles of cut wood, or piles of coal. The Railroad Depots were usually placed between seven and ten miles apart, so the early locomotives could get fueled up.

Photo - circa 1915

(Photo and information courtesy Terry Miller)

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This large group of folks are at the at the Burlington Railroad Depot, behind the Custom House / Post Office, in Galena, Illinois, in the late 1890s.

On the left you can see a gentleman with a Penny Farthing Bicycle, and on the right you can see the Burlington Railroad Bridge, that crossed the Galena River.

Photo - circa late 1890s.

(Photo and information courtesy Terry Miller)

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Tim Doser shared the following information about the above photo:

In the great flood of 1892, the Illinois Central RR Switch bridge, that crossed the river diagonally near Franklin Street, toppled and was carried downstream until it took out the Green Street bridge. Both bridges were stopped by the bridge in this picture, preventing the loss of the remaining two bridges downstream, the Spring Street bridge and the Illinois Central RR bridge.

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Galena Daily Gazette

30 October 1886

The New Depots

The passenger depot of the C. B. & N. road, which is now being built, is to be 54 x 22 feet, and will contain a ladies' waiting room, a gentlemen's waiting room, a baggage room and a ticket office. It will be surrounded with platforms, and a platform will extend south to the end of the new bridge. The bridge will have a wide sidewalk for persons on foot to cross to the depots on the east side. This sidewalk will join the platform of the depot, so that communication back and forth between the three passenger depots will be very convenient, only the width of the river separating them.

The new freight depot will be situated a few rods south of the passenger depot, and will be near Mahoney & Rochford's store. It will be 100 x 25 feet. The foundation, like that of the passenger depot, will be laid on piling, and it will be a substantial brick building.

(Article courtesy Tim Doser)

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Galena Daily Gazette
27 October 1939

Recreation Center Moves to New Location

The federal recreation project has been moving during the past two weeks into the Burlington depot where they will operate a recreation center. One room will be for social activities, and the other room will be a game room and for craft activities. The county recreation office will also be located in the building. This center will operate the year around and will be known as the Galena Recreation Center.

Wesley Bartel, director for recreation, announces that the center will be open to the public November 1st, it will be open from 9:00 a.m., till 10:00 p.m. with the exception of Saturday and at that time will close at 4:00 p. m.

After school hours it will be open for children of school age, eighth grade and under, after supper preference will be given to participants of High School age and adults.

(Article courtesy Tim Doser)

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This photo was taken during the construction of the Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot and Hotel, in Aiken, Illinois, that was south of Galena, in Rice Township.

This building was torn down in 1939.

Photo - 1901

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Galena Daily Gazette

27 May 1901

Aiken the Beautiful

The Chicago Great Western is Erecting Buildings at Aiken

Aiken, which is situated in Rice township, and about a mile from Galena Junction on the Chicago Great Western road, is just now the scene of much activity, and it is believed that within a short time a new town will spring up at that place that will surprise the natives hereabouts. At present the foundation for a good sized hotel is being laid by the Great Western, stockyards and a round house will also be constructed, and it is said a store building or two are being planned for erection. People who reside in that neighborhood state that all trains stop at Aiken now, and it is believed the end of the division from Oelwein will be made there. As soon as the hotel is completed, between ten and fifteen engineers and other trainmen will end their runs and lay over at Aiken.

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Galena Daily Gazette

20 September 1939

Hotel at Aiken Sold and Now Being Torn Down

The old hotel at Aiken has been purchased from the Great Western Railroad by Dr. Ivan Hunzelman. Louis Heim has the contract for wrecking the building and has started work. The building was purchased for salvage purposes.

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Tim Doser also added:

Aiken had a stockyard and a telegraph office for a time. In 1892 there was a dam built there to force the flow of the Galena River northward through Harris slough, the object being to clear away a sandbar at the head of the slough.

Just over one hundred years ago there was a murder at Aiken. Yes, right here in “River City.” Two unemployed transient RR workers who were cousins requested and were given a ride on a “speeder” by another RR worker previously unknown to them. They shot, killed and robbed him, then threw his body in a nearby hole adjacent to the tracks. By the following day they had been apprehended, and confessed. One was given a life sentence and the other escaped and was never seen again.

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16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

This is a 1937 plat map of Rice Townhip, with the Aiken CGW RR is located on the border of section 8 and 9.

05. Market House

07. Customs House & Post Office

16. Illinois Central Railroad Depot (East Side Tour)

18. Turner Hall

23. DeSoto House Hotel

29. Grant’s Pre-Civil War House

53. Old Stockade

63. Dowling House

68. Grant’s Home

72. Washburne House