Renovations and upgrades restore a 100-year-old community landmark
Years of commuter traffic and harsh Chicago winters took a toll on La Grange’s century-old Stone Avenue Train Station: rusted gutters, rotting wood, peeling paint. Also, renovations in the 1960s reduced some of the facility’s original charm.
A restoration returns the station, with its stone arches and strong details, to its former glory. The design team studied the station’s original 1901 plans and early photographs to ensure updates were period correct. The work includes tuckpointing, new wood trim, new gutters and downspouts, new lighting, and a new roof, as well as a refresh of the interior.
The 900-square-foot station, designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, symbolizes the village’s historic bond with rail and its traditional ideals of strength and grace. The repairs emphasize high-quality materials and craftsmanship consistent with the station’s original design. Accessibility seamlessly integrates into the design: a gently sloping sidewalk (instead of a ramp) mimics the station’s arches.
The Stone Avenue Train Station’s restoration is a model project demonstrating a community’s value for its civic infrastructure. Unique and noteworthy is the pantheon of partners that coalesced around the importance of its reuse.
Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO, Landmarks Illinois
