Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Main Street Siding

GM & O Railroad Heritage Trail

— Columbia, Illinois —

Main Street Siding Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, May 23, 2025

1. Main Street Siding Marker

Inscription. It was at this point a siding, orspur, split off the mainline to serve a grain mill that once stood near the center of Columbia. The siding ran east-west behind the current location of the Metter Park tennis courts. Along the way to the mill, the siding crossed Locust St., Metter Ave., Main St., and Rapp Ave. before ending at Saint Paul St. The photos above taken by Steve Eckert show a locomotive returning to the mainline after dropping off cars at the old mill in the summer of 1980.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1980.

Location. 38° 26.679′ N, 90° 11.827′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe County. It is on East Legion Street 0.1 miles north of East Cherry Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 E Cherry St, Columbia IL 62236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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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: Columbia Depot (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); South Metter Whistle Post (about 400 feet away); Locust Street Whistle Post (about 500 feet away); Memorial in honor of our sons and daughters (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Miller-Fiege House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Roessler Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); First National Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away); Masonic Lodge & State Theater (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Miller-Fiege Home (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Thomas Smith, May 23, 2025

2. Main Street Siding Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 24, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.