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my days of the depot started when my dad ask me to help him take down a building near the depot.we went down one night after school and my dad was home from work.he had been working on this building for some time i could tell.the night i went we were taking boards off the floor in side the building.my dad told me to come over where he was across the room.I went over and he had found some old money under the floor of this old building.I could tell it was old because it did'nt look like money I had seen.I dont know what ever happen to that money,to this day.that was back in the sixtys. I was in the third or forth grade.i can remember a few old box cars sitting around.and three old passenger cars there by the depot.i can remember my dad taking me fishing and seeing an old guy walking the tracks.I allways wondered if he was a bum.who knows

robert field
rockport, TX USA - Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 1:08 pm

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I worked at the oregon depot from the early 1960 thru the early 1970 as a telegrapher, and train order operator. Had a lot of fond memories . I was promoted to Train Dispatcher with the Burlington Northern in Cicero,than transfered to Galesburg and finally Fort Worth, Tx, where I have lived for the past 12 years, of which the past 2 enjoying retirement. Good luck on restoring the depot . I have a few old timetables and other rr memobilia that I might consider donating to the office.

Merle Gann
North Richland Hills, Tx USA - Tuesday, August 31, 2004 at 8:40 am

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Although I never knew my Grandfather, George Mumford, he worked on the Oregon railroad. I remember my Grandmother, Edna Mumford, telling stories about grandpa and how hard he worked. I have a picture of my Mother, Mildred Reinhardt, standing by one of the train cars that was sitting on the tracks. My first real encounter with the Oregon Depot came when my brother, Ray "Corky" Green, Bob Hitchcock and about 6 of us neighborhood kids would ride the dinky from Oregon to Mt. Morris (Kable Printing Co.) where we were given old comic books without the covers to bring home. That was great!! Jim Kerevin was the man in charge and we paid a lot of attention to him when he talked. Later, when my husband, John Adams, was called back into the Navy for the Korean War a month after we were married - it was at the Oregon Depot that we said our goodbye. That was a very bad day as we were separated for 11 months before I was able to join him. I took the California Zephyr to San Francisco - that was a delightful trip - then boarded the ship that would take me to Guam and John & I were able to spend our first anniversary together!! Also in my memories of the Oregon Depot are when John (returning to civilian life) would take the train into Chicago every Monday morning to go to school - he would return home on Friday and I would meet him at the Depot and we would be together on week-ends. We used to ride the train into Chicago to go to the White Sox ball games. Those were always great trips!!

Viola Adams
Oregon, IL USA - Monday, May 12, 2003 at 10:25 pm

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I am Lee W. Lovstad, oldest child of LeRoy and Nina Fay Koper Lovstad (now deceased) of R.R. 3, Oregon, Illinois. My two brothers and I were born to and raised on the family farm, now owned and operated by Jan Benard Lovstad. The farm is just below the CB&Q grade crossing on the Ridge Road southeast of Mt. Morris. In our early childhood Jan and I often ran in terror as Ma sprinted to the clothesline to rescue the wash as the dinky strained up the grade towards Mt. Morris, black smoke pouring from the stack. Often the load was so big the engine had to leave some cars braked on the grade, returning for them later. I can recall numerous trips to the baggage section of the depot to pick up shipped items such as our David-Bradley seeder, purchased in the 50's, and I think still in use by my brother. Other recollections include "your Dad hit the train...." (He hadn't, but the train was laying on the road, and later the mailman almost did). Career choices pulled me away, but your list of contributors holds many familiar names. I include my mailing address. As years advance I have begun to informally record my recollections, which include a section laborer's summer in 1966 on Section 29 out of Polo. We often reported on site to Roy Withers' crew out of Oregon when extra hands were needed. Sincerely, Lee W. Lovstad

Lee W. Lovstad
Marshall, IL USA - Sunday, April 13, 2003 at 08:41am

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