Central (2600N/1000W)
Central Street and Girard Avenue, City of Evanston

Service Notes:

Purple Line: Evanston

Quick Facts:

Address: 1022 Central Avenue, Evanston
Established: May 16, 1908
Original Line: Northwestern Elevated Railroad, Evanston Division
Previous Names: none
Skip-Stop Type: All-Stop
Rebuilt: 1931
Status: In Use

History:

"L" service was extended north of Wilson in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood to Central Avenue in north Evanston over the electrified tracks Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The St. Paul had built the line, under the auspices of the Chicago Evanston & Lake Superior Railway, as a commuter line to Chicago Union Station and began service in 1889. They'd hoped to continue north along the lake and meet the St. Paul main line near Sulphur Glen (Rondout). But this never happened, traffic never developed (thanks, in large part, to the parallel and competing Chicago & North Western commuter line) and the St. Paul began looking for ways to dump the service. The Northwestern Elevated answered that call and took over operation of the line to Central Avenue, Evanston on May 16, 1908.

The Central Street terminal consisted of a simple high-level wooden island platform and small headhouse at the north end of the platform near the street. The tracks and station were at ground-level, as was the entire Evanston extension of the Northwestern, as the "L" simply electrified the existing ground-level steam railroad's tracks. A small yard was built at Central Street, south of the station, for car storage, although its capacity was modest. Central Street also served as the main transfer point between the "L" and the Chicago & Milwaukee Electric interurban (ancestor of the North Shore Line). The C&ME had already been leasing the St. Paul's tracks for a few years from Linden Avenue in Wilmette to Church Street in downtown Evanston, where their terminal was located just a block from the "L"'s Davis Street station. Transfer was also available to the Evanston Electric Railway Company's streetcar line, which ran along Central and then south on Sherman to downtown Evanston. (Later converted to motor buses, the line essentially became the Evanston Bus Company's Route 1, then the CTA's^® #201 Central-Sherman bus.)

Above: The Central station house, with its decorative if institutional pendant lights and terrazzo flooring, originally had a row of four ticket agents booths, as seen in this February 21, 1958 photo. They allowed the station to handle large crowds for sporting events. Note that there are no turnstiles, even 10 years into the CTA era. For a larger view, click here. (CTA Photo, Graham Garfield Collection) Below: The retail spaces that flank the front entrance create a long corridor between the front door and the fare controls, seen here looking south on July 26, 2003. In the distance the fare controls are visible, including the one remaining agents booth of those seen above. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

By 1912, the Northwestern had outgrown its terminal at Central Street. There were also new riders to be had in the nearby suburb to the north, Wilmette. In February 1912, Northwestern President Britton I. Budd notified Wilmette officials of his extension intentions and, despite opposition that quickly developed, the line was extended on April 1, 1912. The Central Avenue yard was soon closed and the station's island platform was eventually replaced with a set of side platforms. A station house was located at the north end of the inbound platform.

The Evanston City Council had always wanted the line through the city elevated and separated from street traffic and pedestrians, but economics made it impossible to do all at once. The south half of the line, from Howard Street to University Place, was elevated first in 1910. The final elevation of the North Side Division tracks through north Evanston between University Place and the city limits at Isabella Street was ordered by the city council in 1920, but financing problems delayed the beginning of construction until 1928. Construction began in August and was a joint venture between the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT), the North Shore Line, and the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul (who still owned the right-of-way). Trains were shifted onto a temporary two-level wooden trestle -- northbound trains on October 4th and southbound on December 9th -- with two-level stations while construction of the permanent solid-fill embankment progressed. Work was largely finished by 1931.

A permanent station was built at Central Avenue as part of the elevation project. Designed by Arthur U. Gerber, who also designed the very similar Sheridan station on the Howard line and South Boulevard in south Evanston, this station combines elements of Doric and Beaux Arts designs, executed in terra cotta. Trademark Gerber details include the laurel-framed cartouches, pair of Greek Revival Doric columns framing the entrance, globed lights and the words "Rapid Transit" above the door in terra cotta. The interior is executed in smooth art marble with a spacious fare control area. On the street elevation, two retail spaces were provided on either side of the entrance. Inside, these flanked the corridor that led to the fare controls, which were located at the back of the building. The station had multiple agent's booths to serve the large crowds that often came to watch sporting events at Northwestern University's nearby Dyche Stadium. The building remains historically intact, with its original terrazzo floors, wood moldings, and one of its decorative agent's booths.

The station was also designed with an auxiliary exit on the north side of Central Street. Although this side had no headhouse, there was a line of small ticket agent's booths that were manned during period of high traffic (typically, a sporting event) when this exit would temporarily be used as an auxiliary entrance. The booths have since been removed and it now functions only as an auxiliary exit.

The station originally had two platforms, one island between the two tracks and an additional side platform to the west of the inbound track. The island platform was for the "L" and northbound North Shore Line passengers, while the side platform was for southbound North Shore Line riders. The idea was to separate inbound interurban passengers so that they couldn't transfer to local "L" trains for free. The stairs from this platform led to the unpaid area of the station. There were no such concerns about "L" passengers boarding northbound North Shore Line trains, as the interurban had conductors that would check for tickets. The platforms had wood decking and a canopy with metal columns. The island platform's canopy supports ran down the center line and split into gently-curving gull wing-shaped roof supports, supporting a wooden canopy roof. The side platform was similarly designed, except that the supports lined the back of the platform and simply arched out over the platform. The stairs were sheltered by wooden enclosures with swinging doors at the front of each enclosure. The side platform has been demolished, although its concrete footings are still evident. The island platform is still in use, though its flooring was later replaced with a concrete deck.

Central station remains largely intact, but in the 1990s unfortunately lost its original light fixtures on the Gerber-designed headhouse, replaced with modern, box-shaped fixtures.

During May 2004, Central began receiving new platform signage. The older KDR-type station name signs were replaced with new Current Graphic Standard versions. The thinner strap brackets that held up the previous signs were replaced with more substantial steel frames. Also replaced were the directional wayfinding/Board Here signs, the long signs directing passengers to which direction of service operates on which side of the platform, at the top of each stair to the platform. The first of the new station name signs and a few symbol signs were installed at the far north end of the platform at the same time. The rest of the station name signs, column signs, and directional signs were installed later.

Central's island platform, with its canopy supports that split into gently-curving gull wing-shaped roof supports, is seen looking north on July 26, 2003. The original wood deck was later replaced with a concrete floor. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield)

	central05.jpg (207k) Across the street from the main entrance, on the north side of Central Street, is an auxiliary exit from the platform. Seen looking north on July 26 2003, the stairs are set quite far back from the street, perhaps far enough that another building could be erected between them and the street, if so desired. To handle large crowds from nearby Dyche Stadium, there used to be a row of small agent's booths in front of the stairs that could allow this to be used as an auxiliary entrance. The gates flanking the rotogates could be opened to allow entry. The booths remained as late as the early 1970s. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	central06.jpg (235k) Still visible along the west side of the embankment, on the outside of the inbound track, are the concrete footings for the former North Shore Line's separate side platform. This view looks north on July 22 2004. (Photo by Graham Garfield)
	central07.jpg (190k) During late Spring and Summer 2004, Central station began to receive new station name and column signs, as well as new board here signs. These newly-installed Current Graphic Standard signs are located at the north end of the platform, seen looking south on July 22 2004. (Photo by Graham Garfield)