Trotwood Railroad Station and Depot
Why it's listed
A small wooden railroad depot, about 40 by 16 feet and built around 1913, is the last visible reminder of how the railroad shaped Trotwood, Ohio. Trains began running through Madison Township in 1854, and the crossing of the railroad with an old Indian trail near Wolf Creek, where a grist mill stood, became the focus of the village. Earlier stations included a box car on a siding and the Higging Station, used until this building replaced it. The one-story depot has a low hip roof with slate shingles, a central box bay, freight doors for the baggage room, and a station master's office entrance. After serving as a station into the mid-twentieth century, it was boarded up and used for storage. The city acquired it by donation in 1980 and moved it to Trotwood Commons Park, placing it in the same relationship to the tracks as before. It was listed locally as significant to community history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is the last vestige of the railroad's importance and impact on Trotwood. The railroad arrived through Madison Township in 1854 and, with an old Indian trail and a grist mill, helped form the village. The depot is the surviving structure reflecting that role.
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 81000448, listed January 26, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 W. Main St., Trotwood |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | January 26, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000448 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Boarded up and used as a storage shed before acquisition by the City of Trotwood; moved to a park in August 1980 and dedicated September 13, 1980, with plans to serve as the center of the Trotwood Historical Society. Condition listed as fair. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.79727, -84.31084 (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 81000448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138638527
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.