SOUTH WHITLEY — A wooden train depot once nestled between Calhoun and State streets marked South Whitley’s connection to the wider world in the late 19th century. When the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company, commonly known as the Nickel Plate Road, announced plans in 1881 to construct an east-west rail line through the town, it signaled a new era for residents.
The line, stretching from New York to Missouri, brought the promise of economic growth and new opportunities, providing a link for both passengers and freight across the mid-central United States.
In South Whitley, the modest depot featured a passenger waiting area, ticket office, administrative space and a freight room. Though simple in design, the building became a community hub.
Residents boarded trains for shopping trips to Fort Wayne or Chicago. Businessmen traveled to St. Louis and beyond. Families used the rail line to visit distant relatives or pursue new beginnings. The depot was also a backdrop for emotional farewells and reunions, as young men and women departed for military service and later returned home…