2018 Warrenville Historic Landmark Ornament Has Arrived!

The 2018 Warrenville Historic Landmark Ornament has arrived! This year’s featured landmark is the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin (CA&E) Railroad downtown Warrenville Station.

After a decades-long struggle to acquire access to the ever-expanding train lines out of Chicago, Warrenville got a passenger rail line in 1902.  The Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad made its way through Warrenville and brought with it visitors from the Chicago region and the ease of rail travel to Warrenville residents.  Warrenville’s public high school students used the CA&E train to get to school in Wheaton, using a monthly ride ticket given to them by the School Board.  The train made four stops for Warrenville students-Williams Road, the downtown depot, Winfield Road, and Wiesbrock Road.

As travel by car increased and the East-West Tollway construction expanded, the CA&E passenger service declined after World War II.  Warrenville residents protested the CA&E proposed closing, but after years of threatening service stoppage, on July 3, 1957, at noon, the train no longer made its way through Warrenville.  Commuters who had ridden the train to work that day were left without a ride home.  The rails continued to be used for freight until 1959.  In 1962 the rails were removed making way for the Illinois Prairie Path that marks the trails of the long forgotten CA&E.  

After service ended, the CA&E depot was used by Robert and Dorothy Kelly, first as Dot’s Bargain Shop and then as the Dunk-It Coffee Shop.  After the City government was established in 1967, the old train station was converted into the Warrenville City Hall until a new City Hall was constructed across the street and the old building was taken down.

This ornament was produced thanks to a generous donation from the late Robert “Bob” Sleep. Bob was a lifelong Warrenville resident who, along with the entire Sleep family, contributed greatly to the community. Ornaments can be purchased for $10 at the City Museum during open Sunday hours of 1-4pm. You can also reserve an ornament or request it to be shipped with a $3 shipping and handling fee by contacting the Museum at info@warrenvillehistorical.org or (630)393-4215. Ornaments will also be available for purchase at the Towne Tap starting December 1st.  Other ornaments in the Historic Landmark Series are Holmes School, the Warrenville Store, the Roundhouse and the Albright Building. Own a piece of Warrenville history while supporting the Historical Museum!