West Chicago holiday ornament depicts CB&Q train depot

The West Chicago City Museum has announced the reissue of its 2001 commemorative ornament of the CB&Q Depot as part of the continuing Historic Ornament Series.

The depot ornament will be in full color and includes updated information about the building. It’s selling for $8.

Visitors and West Chicago history buffs will be able to visit the actual Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Depot during Frosty Fest from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at 133 Turner Court, West Chicago. The train exhibit will be up and live music will be performed.

The CB&Q Depot, previously thought to have been built in 1893, is now known to have been built in the 1860s. Its vertical board-and-batten frame construction typifies a railroad structure from that era.

The depot — a remnant of a time when the Burlington started in Junction (now West Chicago) and ran to Aurora — was donated to West Chicago by the Burlington in 1976. It had been moved from its original site on Wood Street to a railroad park that was formerly located near city hall. It was moved back near its original location in 2005.

Along with the new ornament, ornaments from past years and a brochure listing the entire series are for sale. For information, call the City Museum at (630) 231-3376 or email museum@westchicago.org.

Also making news at the City Museum is the upcoming exhibit, “Where History and Progress Meet,” which opens with an artist reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The exhibit is a collaboration between the City Museum and 16 contemporary artists inspired by West Chicago’s history who created new original art for display alongside museum artifacts. The exhibit will run through April.