Ever wonder how Midlothian got its intriguing name? The Village of Midlothian, incorporated in 1927, adopted its name from the local train station.
Midlothian’s story begins like many southwest Chicago suburbs. In the 1800s, it was a landscape of farmers amidst the burgeoning industrial age. This expansion occurred in Bremen Township, Cook County.
By 1854, the Rock Island line carried passengers and goods between Chicago and Joliet. The Illinois Central Railroad fought hard to establish its presence. Stephen A Douglas and Abraham Lincoln worked to promote the Illinois Central Railroad. Douglas later championed transportation plans at the federal level.
Imagine, if you will, a different Midlothian. Had the Illinois Central Railroad laid tracks here in the 1850s or 1860s, the village’s history might be unrecognizable. The village relied on the Rock Island Railroad.
The private sector also pursued railroad development. The Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Company was incorporated in 1847. It later became the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. This private venture outpaced the Illinois Central Railroad’s plans.
The first train connecting Chicago to Joliet ran in October 1852. The Rocket, an American-type locomotive, pulled six yellow coaches. Thousands cheered the train’s progress.
Interestingly, there’s no record of the Illinois Central Railroad ever laying tracks in Midlothian. Commerce centralized in Tinley Park, but Midlothian remained farmland. Rexford Crossing, a whistle stop, served farmers and a limestone quarry.
In 1894, DuPont established a farm and ammunition storage facility. It had its own track spur off the Rock Island Railroad. Smokeless gunpowder was the primary product. The DuPont station served passengers and facilitated product distribution.
Explosions were a risk in gunpowder factories. In 1906, one leveled the DuPont facility. The shockwaves even shattered windows at the Midlothian Country Club. Part of the DuPont property was annexed by Midlothian. The rest became Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve.
Midlothian briefly had a second railroad. The Midlothian Country Club’s annexation brought this history into the village. Wealthy club members found dirt roads too inconvenient. They formed the Midlothian – Blue Island Railroad.
The railroad ran from Blue Island to the country club’s grounds. The Midlothian – Blue Island Railroad negotiated with the Chicago-Rock Island Railroad. They built a spur from Rexford Crossing to the country club. Rexford Crossing became the Midlothian station. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific acquired the station building. The Midlothian – Blue Island Railroad owned the rails and equipment.
The Midlothian – Blue Island Railroad served only the country club’s passengers. It was a private club on private property. The rise of automobiles led to paved roads. The Midlothian – Blue Island Railroad became less relevant. By 1928, the tracks were removed.
The Midlothian train station played a role in the village’s identity. The village was primarily farmland. The Midlothian Country Club brought passenger traffic to the Midlothian train station. Land developers began subdividing farms in 1914.
A few commercial buildings appeared. The Woerheide Building housed Sam Wilson’s General Store and St. Christopher Parish. The Midlothian Fire Department was organized in 1924. The Village of Midlothian was formally incorporated on March 17, 1927. The name came from the train station. By 1929, Midlothian had its first newspaper.
In 1949, a Village Hall was constructed. As you explore Midlothian, remember its evolution. From farmland to a village connected by railroads, Midlothian’s story is one of transformation.