Bloomington in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Railroads and Industry
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023
1. Railroads and Industry Marker
Illinois Central Freight Depot
Originally a one-story building, the depot was built in 1906 adjacent to a mill. A spur of the Illinois Central Railroad tracks passed this depot, along Railroad Street, later renamed Morton Street. A second story was added to the depot in 1922.
Pike Lumber Located on Morton Street, formerly Railroad Street, Pikee Lumber took advantage of being close to the tracks.
Coal distributors dotted the rail line. Notice the Showers Building in the background.
Bloomington Wholesale Foods
The Bloomington Wholesale Foods building was constructed in 1915. Its location next to the B-Line Trail (formerly the Louisville, New Albany and Salem/Monon Railroad) permitted easy loading onto rail cars.
Initially built as a warehouse, the building was sensitively adapted for retail uses in 1988.
Many buildings such as Bloomington Wholesale Foods were built with one side parallel to the tracks giving the
this page online
Erected by Bloomington Parks and Recreation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 39° 10.122′ N, 86° 32.222′ W. Marker is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It is on West 7th Street west of North Morton Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on the Bloomington Rail Trail's B-Line Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 350 W 7th St, Bloomington IN 47404, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023
2. Railroads and Industry Marker
The Illinois Central freight station is in the background.
Also see . . . Illinois Central Railroad Freight Depot. National Register of Historic Places nomination (PDF) and photographs (separate PDF) submitted for the depot, which was listed in 1983. (National Park Service) (Submitted on September 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 6, 2023
3. Illinois Central Freight Station
Built in 1906, it handled cargo from Bloomington's early heavy industries such as limestone mills and the Showers Brothers furniture factory.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
