CHICAGO — Like many of the city's neighborhoods, Edison Park came into existence as a railroad way station.
This week's #ThrowbackThursday is an early 20th century snapshot of the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad, which in 1853 began stopping in a nondescript patch of farmland 12 miles northwest of the 20-year-old city of Chicago, according to Northwest Chicago Historical Society board member Frank Suerth.
The trains stopped to pick up milk from what later became Edison Park, in an area then occupied by dairy farms, Suerth said.
One farm house still stands at 6231 N. Canfield Ave., now distinguished as the neighborhood's oldest home.
The village of Edison Park was incorporated in 1890, and the city annexed it 20 years later.
"One of the reasons Edison Park agreed to become part of Chicago in 1910 was the opening of Schurz High School," 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Old Irving Park, Suerth said. "High School students could get on the train in Edison Park and get off at the Grayland stop then walk the short distance to the school.
In 1959, the original Edison Park train station was demolished and replaced with a brick Metra station at Olmsted and Oshkosh avenues. That station was again rebuilt in 2007.
DNAinfo is partnering with the Northwest Chicago Historical Society for a new history post each week. All photos are the property of Northwest Chicago Historical Society unless otherwise indicated.
For more photos and information, visit the Northwest Chicago Historical Society's Facebook page.
