Source: Rockford Weekly Register-Gazette Mar. 19, 1870
Railroad
Chicago’s First Railroad – Galena and Chicago Union R.R.
“Chicago’s First Railroad,” by Jeffrey J. Meyer
Galena and Chicago Union R.R. (G&CU)
“The railroad never made it to Galena.”
The were 5 divisions: 1) Chicago to Salt Creek )Elmhurst), 2) Salt Creek to Elgin, 3) Elgin to Rockford, 4) Rockford to Freeport, 5) Freeport to Galena (never built by G&CU).
“Rockford greeted its first train on August 2, 1852.”
5 photographs, including one of the original G&CU; the cupola was used to watch for incoming trains. The station burned in the 1871 Chicago fire.
Source: Northwest Quarterly magazine, Fall 2012, Vol. 9, No. 4, pp 129 – 133
818 South Main Street
818 South Main Street
F. E. Diamond, Railroad Fireman
Residence: 818 South Main Street, South Rockford
Source: 1876 Rockford City Directory