MILFORD — There was a time, before automobiles and planes, when the fastest mode of transportation from one location to another over a fair distance was accomplished by boarding a passenger train.
As the locomotive industry expanded across the United States, small towns all over the country established designated areas where passengers could gather to board a train going to just about anywhere. Milford was no exception.
The Cincinnati, Wabash and Michigan Railroad gave Milford its first new mode of transportation, laying tracks through the town around 1870. This was known by the name CCC and STL (The Big 4 Railway).
Soon after the tracks were laid, actual train depots began to spring up in all the towns along the way to accommodate passengers boarding and disembarking as they arrived at their destinations. The first train depot in Milford was probably built between 1870 and 1880 and operated well into the early to mid-1900s.
The actual depot building is long gone now, being torn down in the 1960s; however, not all has been lost from that iconic building. Recently, the Milford Public Library was gifted one of the Milford signs that hung above the wooden structure that was the town’s railroad depot.
Dean Cousins of Milford is a train enthusiast and a collector of model trains. In the mid-1990s, Cousins built a depot-like building at his home to accommodate his collection of trains, and in 1997, he was given the Milford depot sign to hang in his unique building.
A few months ago, Cousins decided to downsize his collection and was looking for a way to preserve the sign, but also make it available for anyone interested in railroad memorabilia and Milford history. He felt the public library was the perfect place to hang the sign, so the community could stop by and see and appreciate its place in history.
It’s a very heavy sign, so it took a few extra hands to install it properly. Library staff would like to thank Cousins, Bruce Berkey Construction, Bob Cline and Scott Mast for their time and expertise in hanging the sign. It is located on the north wall of the adult department along with photographs of the original depot. Feel free to stop by and take a look.
Preschool Winter Story Time
Register your child now for winter preschool story time at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. It is for children ages 3-6. This is a great opportunity for your children to meet new friends, practice listening skills and explore the public library. Maria Pamer will be your storyteller. The themes are: Warm & Fuzzy, Jack Frost, Counting Cookies, Feel Better Soon, Winter Waltz and Story Time Favorites. Enjoy some special time with your child, make a craft together and share a snack. To register, visit the children’s department or call (574) 658-4312.
February LEGO Challenge
The monthly LEGO Challenge for February is to create a valentine. The winner will take home a new LEGO kit. Be sure to enter the challenge by Feb. 24. Children ages preschool through eighth grade are invited to submit a photo of their creation to [email protected]. Library staff will choose a winner from the submissions. They have a challenge each month during the school year.
LEGO Saturdays are from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the first Saturday of each month, February through May. The whole family is welcome to build things with the library’s collection of LEGOs.