Historical Images of Porter County

Pan Handle Depot, Hebron, Ind.
Hebron, Indiana

Date: Circa 1910
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: None
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: The Panhandle Railroad was the more common name for the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. Note the milk cans next to the station, indicating that this depot also served as a milk station. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad was constructed through Hebron in 1863. A stockyard was established next to the railroad tracks, which served as a shipping point for beef and sheep for the Chicago market. Swamp hay was also shipped to Chicago from this location. Use of this station ceased in the 1960s due to a lack of freight and passengers. The station building was then purchased in 1976 by Dan and Dee Siple and remodeled into an old time ice cream parlor and fast food shop called the Whistle Stop.

Written by Dorothy Hewitt on the reverse of this postcard is the following history:
When Monte Morrow was growing up, he had a shoe-shine outfit. Many salemen [sic] stayed in the hotel when they rode the trains. When some of the fast passenger trains had to stop to take on water, Monte was allowed to board the train to shine shoes. The tips were often very good.

This picture is one of the best pictures of the Hebron Depot that I have ever seen. It was a very busy place for many years.

During the years of 1920-1924, I stayed (to attend high school) in Hebron with my grandfather, David Wilson, and Aunt Alta Wilson.

Several times we rode the train to Crown Point to the basketball games. A special stop had to be made. Fun for all. Crown Point usually won.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook