Illinois Central Freight Depot
In 1982, the Illinois Central Freight Depot was slated for demolition. The railroad had suspended “piggy back” operations at the depot and hired a demolition contractor to raze the building. C.R. Neff had different plans. He purchased the building and renovated the inside for retail and office space. The outside was restored. A devastating fire in January 1984 could not bring the building down. It stands today as one of the few successful restorations in Mattoon.
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