IDOT finalizes rail agreement for Chicago-Moline route

PRINCETON — There was cake ... and punch ... and laughter. There were pictures from the past, and a re-enactment that helped stimulate the memories. There were short speeches, music and an overall sense of pride. Yes, everything birthday parties are made of came together to honor this Princeton centenarian.

One hundred years ago today, Thursday, the Princeton depot was dedicated to the city of Princeton, and on Tuesday evening, area officials and several folks from around the county gathered at the historic site to commemorate that 100th birthday.

With music playing in the background provided by a Princeton High School brass ensemble, Princeton Marketing and Tourism Director Joni Hunt opened the event, welcoming party-goers to the celebration. Also speaking to the crowd were Amtrak’s Derek James, Rep. Don Moffitt and Bureau County Historical Society Director Pam Lange.

“Princeton has an important place in my heart,” James said, adding 32,000 people used the Princeton depot this year. That number was met with applause from the crowd.

Moffitt took the crowd on a brief trip down Memory Lane, reminding those in attendance how the Princeton depot was often a place of sadness and tears as people watched loved ones depart on a train ... but also a place of great happiness, as those same loved ones returned home.

Lange offered the more than 100 people the opportunity to look at old photos of the depot and gave a brief overview of the stalwart that sits next to the tracks on Princeton’s north side.

Stephanie Van Ordstand Morrow and Dick Dorsch presented a re-enactment; Van Ordstrand Morrow depicted Margaret Trimble who initially wrote a letter to Darius Miller, hoping he would financially help install new lighting at the depot. Dorsch portrayed Miller, who said he could do better than new lighting ... What about a new depot?

Tuesday’s celebration was especially fitting, following Monday’s announcement that funding had been released for construction to begin on the Chicago-Moline passenger rail corridor.

The corridor will run along the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad from Chicago to Wyanet, and on the Iowa Interstate Railroad from Wyanet to Moline. The project will require a new track connection at Wyanet, where the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line currently crosses over the Iowa Interstate Railroad’s line. Other potential work for Bureau County could include more track upgrades along the Iowa Interstate Railroad’s line and improvements at grade crossings.