Opportunity To Own Model Of Decatur’s  Most Iconic Structure

     History of the Heartland is offering area residents an opportunity to own one of Decatur’s most iconic structures, the Decatur Transfer House. The limited-edition HO scale (1:87) model features its original look with a weathered boxcar red roof. The project forms one part of the celebration of the 7th annual historic preservation week produced by History of the Heartland.
     “We collaborated with Jesse Blunt of Thinkwell Makerspace Innovations to produce a scale model of the Transfer House using 3D printing and other makerspace technologies,” says History of the Heartland chairman Bret Robertson. “It’s a beautiful replica, and it also serves as a demonstration of the impressive makerspace capabilities. Our team saw this as a new way to create engagement with history and architecture.”
     Ayn Owens, founder of History of the Heartland explains “collaborations like these are way to speak to younger generations and promote the beauty and significance of our history.”
     The Decatur Transfer House was designed by famed 19th century architect W.W. Boyington. It originally stood in Decatur’s Lincoln Square where it functioned as a central electric streetcar and interurban station, and later a bus terminal, for the city. Construction began in 1895 and was funded by downtown merchants around Lincoln Square and the electric railway company.
     The shape of the building is octagonal, which was ideal for its role as a hub in a central intersection. Thick Romanesque arches in natural stone form the first-floor entrances and windows. The wide bell-shaped roof was also functional in providing a broad canopy for waiting passengers. The second story is an open bandstand which enabled the building to serve in a secondary role as a public venue for concerts and speeches in the public square. Above the bandstand is a cupola, which was functional as the support for the tower to which the guywires for the electric trains were attached.
     The Transfer House first opened to the public in 1896, 130 years ago. Three United States Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson, made public addresses from the Transfer House.
In 1962, the Transfer House, no longer functional as a transportation station, was moved to Central Park where it serves as an enduring symbol of Decatur, Illinois.
     Each Transfer House model is numbered with only 50 available to the public during historic preservation week. Each model comes with a certificate of authenticity. For historic preservation week only, they are available for a $60 in-person donation to History of the Heartland. Check or cash. History of the Heartland will have models available on Friday, May 15th 3:30 pm to 5:30pm and Saturday, May 16 7:30am to 9am. The location will be on the sidewalk at the west side of the Transfer House. Text 217-791-1385 for more info or the History of the Heartland Facebook page.