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Address: TBD
Established: 1902
"L" Service Inaugurated: October 1, 1926
"L" Service Withdrawn: December 9, 1951
Original Line: Aurora Elgin & Chicago Ry
Rebuilt: c. 1922
Previous Names: N/A
Flag stop
History:
17th Avenue opened as a small, local station in 1902. It had two low level platforms situated on the east side of 17th Avenue.
When Dr. Thomas Conway, Jr. acquired the Third Rail Division of the Aurora Elgin & Chicago Railroad in 1922, he reorganized it as the Chicago Aurora & Elgin Railroad and began a massive rehabilitation to make the railroad faster, bring it up to date, and make it more attractive to current and potential passengers. A new brick station was added to 17th Avenue as part of this rehabilitation.1
During this period of reconstruction, the Chicago Aurora & Elgin also began the construction of a new bypass route that left the main line heading south immediately east of Bellwood Avenue. This line was intended to turn west, pass through what is now Oakbrook, and join the Aurora Branch near Weisbrook Road.2 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, 1926.3 With the inauguration of "L" service to Westchester, CA&E trains ceased stopping at 17th 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.4 Concurrent with CTA’s withdrawal of service, the CA&E resumed service to the station.5
Tickets were sold at the "Shack" Restaurant, located at 1142 S. 17th Ave., and were available for purchase from 5:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M Monday through Saturday, except on holidays. On Sundays and holidays, tickets were available from 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon.6 At all other times, a passenger paid his or her fair 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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