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IN AMBOY, THERE IS A BUILDING PRESERVING HISTORY BEING SAVED BY COMMUNITY PRIDE.
. >> THE RAILROAD BEFORE THE FIRST WORLD WAR WAS VERY MUCH A LARGE
>> THE RAILROAD BEFORE THE FIRST WORLD WAR WAS VERY MUCH A LARGE PART OF THE CITY AND THE DRIVING
WORLD WAR WAS VERY MUCH A LARGE PART OF THE CITY AND THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR POPULATION.
IT IS QUIET NOW. THE PEOPLE IN HURRIED ATMOSPHERE ARE GONE.
THE PEOPLE IN HURRIED ATMOSPHERE ARE GONE. BUT THE DEPOT REMAINS.
ARE GONE. BUT THE DEPOT REMAINS. THE STYLE OF BUILDING IS CALLED
BUT THE DEPOT REMAINS. THE STYLE OF BUILDING IS CALLED ITALIAN RENAISSANCE.
THE STYLE OF BUILDING IS CALLED ITALIAN RENAISSANCE. WE ARE TOLD THAT THROUGH THE
ITALIAN RENAISSANCE. WE ARE TOLD THAT THROUGH THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AGENCY
WE ARE TOLD THAT THROUGH THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AGENCY THAT IT IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AGENCY THAT IT IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND EVER BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY
THAT IT IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND EVER BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY AND OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY ONE EVER
KIND EVER BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY AND OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY ONE EVER SAVED.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE ONLY ONE EVER SAVED. THIS BUILD WAS BUILT IN 1876.
SAVED. THIS BUILD WAS BUILT IN 1876. IT WAS STARTED AND FISHED IN
THIS BUILD WAS BUILT IN 1876. IT WAS STARTED AND FISHED IN 1877, AND EACH ROOM, EACH ONE OF
IT WAS STARTED AND FISHED IN 1877, AND EACH ROOM, EACH ONE OF THE 17 ROOMS SERVED A SPECIFIC
1877, AND EACH ROOM, EACH ONE OF THE 17 ROOMS SERVED A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
THE 17 ROOMS SERVED A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. FOR MANY YEARS, THERE WERE
PURPOSE. FOR MANY YEARS, THERE WERE QUARTERS WHERE PEOPLE COULD STAY
FOR MANY YEARS, THERE WERE QUARTERS WHERE PEOPLE COULD STAY OVERNIGHT AND CATCH THE
QUARTERS WHERE PEOPLE COULD STAY OVERNIGHT AND CATCH THE PASSENGER TRAIN OUT OF HERE THE
OVERNIGHT AND CATCH THE PASSENGER TRAIN OUT OF HERE THE NEXT MORNING.
PASSENGER TRAIN OUT OF HERE THE NEXT MORNING. ONCE THIS WAS THE MAJOR HUB FOR
NEXT MORNING. ONCE THIS WAS THE MAJOR HUB FOR THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL AND BUS
ONCE THIS WAS THE MAJOR HUB FOR THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL AND BUS STOP BETWEEN DECATUR AND
THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL AND BUS STOP BETWEEN DECATUR AND FREEPORT.
STOP BETWEEN DECATUR AND FREEPORT. IN FRONT RAN 23 PARALLEL TRACKS
FREEPORT. IN FRONT RAN 23 PARALLEL TRACKS PLACED SO CLOSE TOGETHER ONLY
IN FRONT RAN 23 PARALLEL TRACKS PLACED SO CLOSE TOGETHER ONLY INCHES SEPARATED THE ROLLING
PLACED SO CLOSE TOGETHER ONLY INCHES SEPARATED THE ROLLING STOCK.
INCHES SEPARATED THE ROLLING STOCK. SURROUNDING THE DEPOT WAS A MERE
STOCK. SURROUNDING THE DEPOT WAS A MERE YID OF SUPPORT AND REPAIR
SURROUNDING THE DEPOT WAS A MERE YID OF SUPPORT AND REPAIR BUILDINGS NOW ALL GONE.
YID OF SUPPORT AND REPAIR BUILDINGS NOW ALL GONE. THE ONLY TRACKS THAT REMAIN LAY
BUILDINGS NOW ALL GONE. THE ONLY TRACKS THAT REMAIN LAY UNDERNEATH THIS 1929 LOCOMOTIVE.
THE ONLY TRACKS THAT REMAIN LAY UNDERNEATH THIS 1929 LOCOMOTIVE. >> IT IS THE LAST LOCOMOTIVE WHO
UNDERNEATH THIS 1929 LOCOMOTIVE. >> IT IS THE LAST LOCOMOTIVE WHO HAULED PASSENGER SERVICE IN THIS
>> IT IS THE LAST LOCOMOTIVE WHO HAULED PASSENGER SERVICE IN THIS COUNTRY.
HAULED PASSENGER SERVICE IN THIS COUNTRY. IT HAS WELL OVER A MILLION MILES
COUNTRY. IT HAS WELL OVER A MILLION MILES ON IT, AND IS TOLD TO US TO BE
IT HAS WELL OVER A MILLION MILES ON IT, AND IS TOLD TO US TO BE THE LOCOMOTIVE WHICH HAS CARRIED
ON IT, AND IS TOLD TO US TO BE THE LOCOMOTIVE WHICH HAS CARRIED MORE PASSENGERS THAN ANY OTHER
THE LOCOMOTIVE WHICH HAS CARRIED MORE PASSENGERS THAN ANY OTHER LOCOMOTIVE EVER BUILT IN THIS
MORE PASSENGERS THAN ANY OTHER LOCOMOTIVE EVER BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY.
LOCOMOTIVE EVER BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY. >> WHILE THE EXTERIOR
COUNTRY. >> WHILE THE EXTERIOR RESTORATION IS DONE, THE
>> WHILE THE EXTERIOR RESTORATION IS DONE, THE INTERIOR IS WAITING ITS TURN.
RESTORATION IS DONE, THE INTERIOR IS WAITING ITS TURN. INSIDE, PLASTER WALLS CRACK WITH
INTERIOR IS WAITING ITS TURN. INSIDE, PLASTER WALLS CRACK WITH AGE IN ROOMS WHERE PIECES OF
INSIDE, PLASTER WALLS CRACK WITH AGE IN ROOMS WHERE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT LAY SCATTERED ABOUT.
AGE IN ROOMS WHERE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT LAY SCATTERED ABOUT. IN ONE CORNER, THE RADIO SEEMS
EQUIPMENT LAY SCATTERED ABOUT. IN ONE CORNER, THE RADIO SEEMS READY TO RECEIVE AND TRANSMIT
IN ONE CORNER, THE RADIO SEEMS READY TO RECEIVE AND TRANSMIT ORDERS TO PASSING FREIGHT
READY TO RECEIVE AND TRANSMIT ORDERS TO PASSING FREIGHT TRAINS.
ORDERS TO PASSING FREIGHT TRAINS. ABOVE, HANGS THE RATE
TRAINS. ABOVE, HANGS THE RATE NOTIFICATION OF 1941, STATING
ABOVE, HANGS THE RATE NOTIFICATION OF 1941, STATING BASIC PAY WAS NOW 36 CENTS AN
NOTIFICATION OF 1941, STATING BASIC PAY WAS NOW 36 CENTS AN HOUR.
BASIC PAY WAS NOW 36 CENTS AN HOUR. >> THIS ROOM WAS ORIGINALLY THE
HOUR. >> THIS ROOM WAS ORIGINALLY THE LADY'S WAITING ROOM.
>> THIS ROOM WAS ORIGINALLY THE LADY'S WAITING ROOM. TO MY LEFT, WAS THE MEN'S
LADY'S WAITING ROOM. TO MY LEFT, WAS THE MEN'S WAITING ROOM.
TO MY LEFT, WAS THE MEN'S WAITING ROOM. BUT BACK IN THOSE YEARS, THINGS
WAITING ROOM. BUT BACK IN THOSE YEARS, THINGS WERE OBVIOUSLY SEGREGATED BY
BUT BACK IN THOSE YEARS, THINGS WERE OBVIOUSLY SEGREGATED BY GENDER.
WERE OBVIOUSLY SEGREGATED BY GENDER. BEHIND ME WAS ORIGINALLY THE
GENDER. BEHIND ME WAS ORIGINALLY THE DRESSING ROOM.
BEHIND ME WAS ORIGINALLY THE DRESSING ROOM. IN 1940, AFTER PASSENGER
DRESSING ROOM. IN 1940, AFTER PASSENGER SERVICE
IN 1940, AFTER PASSENGER SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED, THAT ROOM WAS
SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED, THAT ROOM WAS CHANGED TO A FREIGHT ROOM.
WAS DISCONTINUED, THAT ROOM WAS CHANGED TO A FREIGHT ROOM. >> IN THE ORIGINAL FREIGHT ROOM,
CHANGED TO A FREIGHT ROOM. >> IN THE ORIGINAL FREIGHT ROOM, THE OLD VAULT STANDS OPEN.
>> IN THE ORIGINAL FREIGHT ROOM, THE OLD VAULT STANDS OPEN. INSIDE, THE WALLS ARE LINED WITH
THE OLD VAULT STANDS OPEN. INSIDE, THE WALLS ARE LINED WITH HANDWRITTEN NAMES OF SOME OF
INSIDE, THE WALLS ARE LINED WITH HANDWRITTEN NAMES OF SOME OF THOSE WHO ONCE WORKED AT THE
HANDWRITTEN NAMES OF SOME OF THOSE WHO ONCE WORKED AT THE DEPOT.
THOSE WHO ONCE WORKED AT THE DEPOT. AMONG THE NAMES IS THIS
DEPOT. AMONG THE NAMES IS THIS REFERENCE TO "SMASHED CARS" FROM
AMONG THE NAMES IS THIS REFERENCE TO "SMASHED CARS" FROM 1913.
REFERENCE TO "SMASHED CARS" FROM 1913. >> THE EVENT THAT THAT MENTIONS
1913. >> THE EVENT THAT THAT MENTIONS IS ONE THERE IS A PICTURE AROUND
>> THE EVENT THAT THAT MENTIONS IS ONE THERE IS A PICTURE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE DEPICTING THE
IS ONE THERE IS A PICTURE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE DEPICTING THE ACTUAL TRAIN CRASH AND IT ALMOST
HERE SOMEWHERE DEPICTING THE ACTUAL TRAIN CRASH AND IT ALMOST KNOCKED THE BILLING DOWN.
ACTUAL TRAIN CRASH AND IT ALMOST KNOCKED THE BILLING DOWN. THERE WERE I THINK 23 CARS THAT
KNOCKED THE BILLING DOWN. THERE WERE I THINK 23 CARS THAT WENT OVER -- WERE TIPPED OVER
THERE WERE I THINK 23 CARS THAT WENT OVER -- WERE TIPPED OVER HERE.
WENT OVER -- WERE TIPPED OVER HERE. IT SHOWS PILES AND PILES OF COAL
HERE. IT SHOWS PILES AND PILES OF COAL AND MEN CLIMBING ON THE CARS.
IT SHOWS PILES AND PILES OF COAL AND MEN CLIMBING ON THE CARS. >> BUT THE DEPOT IS MORE THAN
AND MEN CLIMBING ON THE CARS. >> BUT THE DEPOT IS MORE THAN ECHOES OF RAILROADING MEMORIES.
>> BUT THE DEPOT IS MORE THAN ECHOES OF RAILROADING MEMORIES. ITS UPPER FLOOR ONCE OFFICES AND
ECHOES OF RAILROADING MEMORIES. ITS UPPER FLOOR ONCE OFFICES AND GUEST ROOMS HAS BECOME AMBOY'S
ITS UPPER FLOOR ONCE OFFICES AND GUEST ROOMS HAS BECOME AMBOY'S MUSEUM, AND IDEA THAT BEGAN WITH
GUEST ROOMS HAS BECOME AMBOY'S MUSEUM, AND IDEA THAT BEGAN WITH A TON OF ROCKS.
MUSEUM, AND IDEA THAT BEGAN WITH A TON OF ROCKS. >> THESE ARE GENTLEMEN THAT
A TON OF ROCKS. >> THESE ARE GENTLEMEN THAT LIVED IN AMBOY FOR MANY, MANY
>> THESE ARE GENTLEMEN THAT LIVED IN AMBOY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
LIVED IN AMBOY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HIS NAME WAS ARTHUR BROKER.
YEARS. HIS NAME WAS ARTHUR BROKER. HE WAS A PROFESSOR.
HIS NAME WAS ARTHUR BROKER. HE WAS A PROFESSOR. HE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY AT HIS
HE WAS A PROFESSOR. HE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, AND HE KNEW MORE
HE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, AND HE KNEW MORE ABOUT FOSSILS AND ROCKS THAN
OWN EXPENSE, AND HE KNEW MORE ABOUT FOSSILS AND ROCKS THAN ANYBODY WE HAVE EVER MET.
ABOUT FOSSILS AND ROCKS THAN ANYBODY WE HAVE EVER MET. THESE ARE WORTH THOUSANDS AND
ANYBODY WE HAVE EVER MET. THESE ARE WORTH THOUSANDS AND HOUSING OF DOLLARS.
THESE ARE WORTH THOUSANDS AND HOUSING OF DOLLARS. MASS AT THAT DON TOOTH, THINGS
HOUSING OF DOLLARS. MASS AT THAT DON TOOTH, THINGS HE FOUND IN THE SOUTHWEST, AND
MASS AT THAT DON TOOTH, THINGS HE FOUND IN THE SOUTHWEST, AND IT IS ALL UP THERE AND PART OF
HE FOUND IN THE SOUTHWEST, AND IT IS ALL UP THERE AND PART OF OUR HERE.
IT IS ALL UP THERE AND PART OF OUR HERE. >> SO, TOO, IS FARMING.
OUR HERE. >> SO, TOO, IS FARMING. ON DISPLAY IS PLOWS AND PLANTERS
>> SO, TOO, IS FARMING. ON DISPLAY IS PLOWS AND PLANTERS THAT WERE FROM THE 1800'S AND
ON DISPLAY IS PLOWS AND PLANTERS THAT WERE FROM THE 1800'S AND DONATED BY AREA FAMILIES.
THAT WERE FROM THE 1800'S AND DONATED BY AREA FAMILIES. ONE UNIQUE ITEM HAS TO BE A
DONATED BY AREA FAMILIES. ONE UNIQUE ITEM HAS TO BE A SPECIAL SEAT.
ONE UNIQUE ITEM HAS TO BE A SPECIAL SEAT. >> WE HAVE A CHAIR UP THERE THAT
SPECIAL SEAT. >> WE HAVE A CHAIR UP THERE THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHEN HE VISITED
>> WE HAVE A CHAIR UP THERE THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHEN HE VISITED AMBOY IN 1856, BELIEVE IT OR
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHEN HE VISITED AMBOY IN 1856, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GOT SHARED IN.
AMBOY IN 1856, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, GOT SHARED IN. THAT CHAIR IS UPSTAIRS.
NOT, GOT SHARED IN. THAT CHAIR IS UPSTAIRS. WHEN WE COMPLETE OUR
THAT CHAIR IS UPSTAIRS. WHEN WE COMPLETE OUR RESTORATION, THAT CHAIR WILL
WHEN WE COMPLETE OUR RESTORATION, THAT CHAIR WILL HAVE THE MOST PROMINENT SPOT.
RESTORATION, THAT CHAIR WILL HAVE THE MOST PROMINENT SPOT. >> BUT FOR SOME, IT IS THE
HAVE THE MOST PROMINENT SPOT. >> BUT FOR SOME, IT IS THE PICTURES THAT HOLD THE MOST
>> BUT FOR SOME, IT IS THE PICTURES THAT HOLD THE MOST FASCINATION, PICTURES OF PEOPLE
PICTURES THAT HOLD THE MOST FASCINATION, PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO GAVE THIS TOWN ITS
FASCINATION, PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO GAVE THIS TOWN ITS CHARACTER, STARING BACK AT
WHO GAVE THIS TOWN ITS CHARACTER, STARING BACK AT FUTURE GENERATION, PICTURES THAT
CHARACTER, STARING BACK AT FUTURE GENERATION, PICTURES THAT ARE NOW PRESERVED IN THE
FUTURE GENERATION, PICTURES THAT ARE NOW PRESERVED IN THE BUILDING AROUND WHICH THERE LIES
ARE NOW PRESERVED IN THE BUILDING AROUND WHICH THERE LIES -- THEIR LIVES ONCE
BUILDING AROUND WHICH THERE LIES -- THEIR LIVES ONCE REVOLVED.
-- THEIR LIVES ONCE REVOLVED. >> EACH YEAR, AMBOY HOLDS A
REVOLVED. >> EACH YEAR, AMBOY HOLDS A DEPOT DAY FESTIVAL TO HELP RAISE
>> EACH YEAR, AMBOY HOLDS A DEPOT DAY FESTIVAL TO HELP RAISE MONEY TO FINANCE THE CONTINUED
DEPOT DAY FESTIVAL TO HELP RAISE MONEY TO FINANCE THE CONTINUED RESTORATION EFFORT.
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE AMBOY DEPOT MUSEUM CALL (815)857-3814.