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More on the Mount Carmel Line

 

Dave Fiore Sr., a former resident of Bellwood, graciously forwarded this information on the Mount Carmel line.

 

One report was a history of the Mt. Carmel Branch, published on Pages 6 through 11 of the Spring 1986 / 1987 issue of First & Fastest, the journal of the Shore Line Interurban Historical Society. Here are some details that may be of interest for the Mt. Carmel Branch page of the Franzosenbusch website.  

 

The Branch was built by the CA&E predecessor company, the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago Railway, in 1906 to provide service to Mt. Carmel and Oak Ridge Cemeteries.  A group of businessmen associated with the AE&C incorporated The Cook County & Southern Railroad in 1905 for the purpose of acquiring right of way and building the spur. It was a common practice of railroads to organize a separate company to construct a branch line or other extension. This arrangement helped to shield the railroad from any litigation or liability that might develop while the new company purchased land for right of way as well as during construction. It also helped the railroad avoid a possible decline in the value of their stock.

 

The articles of incorporation read:

 

First. The name of this corporation shall be The Cook County & Southern Railroad Company.

 

Second. It is proposed to construct the said railroad from Franklin Park, in Cook County, Illinois, thence in a southerly direction to Garry, Cook County, Illinois.

 

Third. The principal business offices of this corporation shall be established and maintained at Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois.

 

Fourth. The time of the commencement of this corporation shall be November 22nd, 1905, and the period of the continuance shall be Fifty (50) years.

 

Fifth. The amount of the capital stock of this corporation shall be Fifty thousand ($50,000.00) Dollars.

 

Sixth. The names and places of residences of the several persons forming this corporation are:

 

Names                                                               Residences

James S. Hopkins                                             Chicago, Illinois

Royal Wright                                                    Chicago, Illinois

John M. Peffers                                                Aurora, Illinois

Edwin M. McKinney                                          Chicago, Illinois

George W. Childs                                             Hinsdale, Illinois

 

Seventh. The names of the first Board of Directors are: James S. Hopkins, Royal Wright, John M. Peffers, Edwin M. McKinney, George W. Childs.

 

And the government of this corporation shall be vested in the Board of Directors and the officers elected thereby.

 

Eight. The capital stock of this corporation shall be divided into Five hundred (500) shares of the value of One hundred ($100.) dollars each.

 

In Witness Whereof, We have hereunto severally subscribed our names this 22nd of November, A. D. 1905

 

                                                          (Signed)

                                                          James S. Hopkins

 Royal Wright

John M. Peffers

Edwin M. McKinney

Geo. W. Childs

 

Filed for Record

Nov. 23  1905 at 9 A.M.

James A. Rose, Secy. Of State

 

The CC&S proposed an ambiguous line from Franklin Park to avoid having real estate speculators purchase land along the actual right of way. Such an action could place the railroad in jeopardy, because the real estate speculators would demand high prices for the right of way or sue for damages.  The location of the proposed destination terminal is a mystery because I have not found any station or community in Cook County by the name of Garry. 

 

The actual route of the CC&S started in Bellwood, near Bellwood Avenue,  headed west to Mannheim Road, south on Mannheim to Roosevelt Road, then west to Mt. Carmel Cemetery. A significant obstacle was the crossing with the Illinois Central in Hillside.

 

The IC protested any plans to cross their line at grade, and filed a formal objection with the Illinois Railroad & Warehouse Commission on February 9, 1906. The IC was aware that the CC&S was affiliated with the AE&C, and the Crossing Petition only named the AE&C as the Respondent. The issue was quickly resolved by February 14, when the AE&C confirmed that the CC&S would cross below the IC through an underpass. 

 

Construction started January, 1906 and the line was completed as far as Oak Ridge Cemetery when it was placed in service on March 18, 1906. The extension to Mt. Carmel was completed by June.

 

Sources for this information are:

 

Illinois State Archives

Record Group 103.115 Secretary of State - Railroad Record

Record Group 402.003 Illinois Commerce Commission - Record of Actions Taken On Crossing Petitions 

 

Illinois Railroad & Warehouse Commission Annual Report For The Year Ending June 30, 1907, 35

 

Street Railway Review, April 15, 1906, 203.

 

The Great Third Rail, Bulletin no. 105 (Chicago: Central Electric Railfans' Association, 1961), II-7

 

Larry Plachno, Sunset Lines, The Story of the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railroad, vol. 2, History (Polo, Ill.: Transportation Trails, 1989), 233. 

 

Bruce Moffat, The "L" : The Development of Chicago's Rapid Transit System, 1888 - 1932, Bulletin no. 131 (Chicago: Central Electric Railfans' Association, 1995), 162 

 

 

We thank Mr. Fiore for his contribution

Last Modified:  02/01/2004