The Monon Depot in this view has disappeared from south Main Street, but is being recreated on the grounds of the Stevens Museum. The railroad, originally named the Salem & New Albany, was founded in 1847, and played a role in carrying troops during the Civil War. It was the target for Morgan's raiders on July 10, 1863. They tore out Monon tracks, pulled over water tanks, burned trestles and the original depot during their raid on Salem. This is the depot that replaced the one Morgan burned. The card dates to the period after World War I. It's a real photo that has suffered an unfortunate amount of mildew damage. It shows the depot and a crowd (all men and boys, interestingly -- no women) evidently waiting for a train. The Salem Milling Co.'s grain elevator rises behind the building. This second depot was demolished in 1982, but a larger-than-lifesize reproduction has risen next to the Stevens Museum, a labor of love for a crew of railroad aficianados headed by Cecil J. Smith. John K. Campbell does an online newsletter that chronicles the progress on the wonder HO-gauge model train layout the group is building that includes a scale model of the town of Salem. For more Monon and railroad history, start with the Web site of the The Monon Railroad Historical/Technical Society. This card was postmarked from Fredericksburg, Ind., on August 20, 1922, addressed to Mrs. Alma Click, 253 Eagle Rock Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. The message: "Waiting for an answer to my letters. All well. Crops good. Lots of fruit. Guess who." (8/11/01) Home | The 1920s | Next card