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Address: TBD
Established: August 25, 1902
"L" Service Inaugurated: October 1, 1926
"L" Service Withdrawn: December 9, 1951
Original Line: Aurora Elgin & Chicago Ry
Rebuilt: TBD
Previous Names: Seminary Ave.
Flag stop
History:
Seminary Avenue opened as a small, local station in 1902. As with many stations built by the AE&C, the eastbound platform was located on the west side of the street and the westbound platform was on the east side of the street.
Sometime prior to World War I, the station was rebuilt with a high level platform on the western portion of the station and received a brick passenger shelter of the same design used at Berkeley, York St., Villa Park, and High Lake.
In 1925, the CA&E began construction on a new bypass route leaving the main line heading south immediately east of Bellwood Avenue. The line was intended to turn west, pass through what is now Oakbrook, and join the Aurora Branch near Weisbrook Road.1 Local service to and from the city of Westchester would be operated over the eastern portion of this route which would be provided by the rapid transit lines. The intermediate stations between Forest Park and Bellwood would also become rapid transit stations.
Although the route had only been constructed to Roosevelt Road, the new rapid transit service to Westchester began October 1, 1926.2 With the inauguration of "L" service to Westchester, CA&E trains ceased stopping at 11th Avenue and the "L" began providing all service to the station.
In October 1947, the newly formed Chicago Transit Authority took over operation of the surface and rapid transit systems in Chicago and began cutting back poor performing services in order to economize. The Westchester branch, which had little population density to support it, was viewed as one of these and on December 9, 1951, CTA discontinued rapid transit service west of Desplaines Avenue, replacing the line with the #17 Westchester bus.3 Concurrent with CTA’s withdrawal of service, the CA&E resumed service to the station.4
Unlike at 5th, 17th, and 25th (where tickets were sold at nearby commercial establishments) after CTA withdrew service to Westchester no tickets were sold at this location. A passenger had to pay his or her fare onboard the train.
On July 3, 1957, passenger service on the CA&E abruptly ended at 12:13 PM. The station was eventually demolished.
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