Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Passenger Depot
Also known as: Deerfield Train Station
Why it's listed
Perched on a hill on the west side of the railroad tracks at Deerfield Road and Chestnut Street, this one-story wooden depot served the village of Deerfield, Illinois, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. It was built in 1903 to a design by Jay W. Nettenstrom, then damaged by fire in 1918. Architect Charles Rawson oversaw the repair and enlargement, which added a new section on the original foundation and an open pavilion at the south end. Cedar clapboard siding, a hipped roof with decorative brackets, and three-over-one windows characterize the building. Its significance rests on transportation history. Rail service reached Deerfield in 1872 and made possible the brickyards, commuter travel to Chicago, catalogue-home deliveries and subdivision marketing. For many years the station was the main stop on the Milwaukee-to-Chicago run. It was spared from demolition in 1976 and remains an active station today.
Significance in brief: The depot is argued to be significant under Criterion A for transportation, at the local level. Deerfield's commercial and residential growth in the first half of the 20th century was closely tied to its rail connections and rail-related industries. The nomination calls the station the most appropriate property to represent the railroad's impact on the village.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000066, listed February 5, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 860 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | February 5, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000066 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1918-1947 |
| Architect / builder | Rawson, Charles, P., Architect (1918 rebuilding); Jay W. Nettenstrom was architect of record for the original 1903 building |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & Early 20th Century American Movements (with Craftsman influences in details such as exposed roof brackets) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a train station on its original site. A modest rehabilitation took place in 1976 after it was spared from demolition, and a remodel of the station and platforms began in September 1997. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.16780, -87.85016 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000066.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5250890
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.