Marshall, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Marshall Public Library Children’s Area has inspired patrons with its special one-of-a-kind boxcar built by City of Marshall employees since 1996. From 1996 to 2018 the Children’s Area boasted “The Boxcar Children” theme from the children’s book series; the theme was inspired by then City Board Trustee Daralea Smith. In 2019, the library did an extensive renovation, and although the boxcar was still in the Children’s Area, the area lacked the same magical theme it once had. In 2020, the library began featuring historic, local photos donated by Friend of the Library Eleanor Macke. One of the photos in 2022 Facebook feature was of a Marshall train depot called the Vandalia Station, the photo was so unique that it sparked the idea of creating a train depot in the library’s Children’s Area. With a theme secured, director Alyson Thompson contacted local artist Jo Rich-Vadas and local carpenter Randy McGinnis to begin creating a mock-up of the Vandalia Depot to be built inside the library. The depot creation quickly became the magical element the Children’s Area was lacking. The Vandalia Train Depot has a hand-painted art mural by Jo Rich-Vadas featuring the inside of what the train depot might have looked like while sitting inside. The mural also has a scene with a wagon and campers, depicting where the gypsies once camped while staying in Marshall. The one-of-kind train depot structure built by Randy McGinnis features unique dentil work similar to what the real Vandalia Train Station, built in the 1800’s, may have looked like.
The original Vandalia Train Station track ran east and west from Terre Haute to St. Louis and was built in 1854 as the Terre Haute & Alton line. The line operated under many different names as it was common for railroads to be consolidated, bought, and sold frequently throughout the mid to late 1800s. It was most often referred to as the Vandalia Line, but became the Pennsylvania line in 1921 and then merged with New York Central in 1968. The station was located near Clarksville Road, just south of Marshall Cemetery. This particular depot was built in 1891 at a cost of $4,022. Passenger train service stopped in the mid-1950s and the building was used as a freight depot for a few years until it was torn down in December 1959.
Funding for the Children’s Area train depot structure, bookcases, gates and reading booth were generously donated by Dwight and Marca Shore. As an added addition to make the space magical, Quality Lime Company donated the funds to install a suspended train activated by a special button for children to push, with life-sized conductor who says: “All Aboard!”.
To learn more about the library visit us at 612 Archer Avenue, in Marshall, Illinois, online at www.marshallillibrary.com or on Facebook. The library is handicap accessible.
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