Lafayette, IN

M.P. A28.1 - 3st Subdivision - DR

River scene at Riverside. Date is 1915. Bridge is the original trestle.-Starke County Historical Museum-

Bridge building crew. Kankakee River south bank. This is a photo of the building of the original bridge at Riverside. Date of photo unknown. Photo courtsey of the Michigan City Public Library.

Northbound local on the Kankakee River bridge at Riverside. Year listed is 1962.

Abandoned right of way, July 2002. County Road 2450S, looking north towards Wilders.

NEW 07-10-2011 Left: Looking south along the old Michigan City right of way. The old roadbed now serves as a driveway. Right: Concrete footings for a water tank just off the old right of way, north of the Kankakee River. -Ron Marquardt photographs-

July 2002. Kankakee River, looking north along abandoned right of way. North bank abutment is about 10 yards behind me.

The abandoned right of way has been converted into a driveway south of County Road 2450S. Although marked "No Trespassing", Fred advised to drop his name if anyone bothered us. Nobody did and a local homeowner allowed me access to take pictures along north bank the river. The bridge is gone but the concrete abutments north and south of the river remain. There are also old timber pilings at the river's edge, from the original bridge, according to the homeowner we first talked with. After walking a short distance down the right of way to the north bridge abutment, we were greeted by a local couple. "This area was once known as Riverside" they told us. "And when steam engines went away, basically so did Riverside." According to the couple, many of the houses on the west side of the right of way were, at one time, businesses. Time tables list Riverside as early as 1885. They could not elaborate on what type of business or when they ceased operation. From the look of the houses still standing, I would venture a guess that the larger house closest to the right of way was formerly a hotel or tavern, or both. I remember seeing similiar structures along the Kankakee south of Shelby growing up. The Kankakee River area once was host to dozens of hunting clubs and lodges. There was once another club just east of this location. When the river was dredged and straightened, that spelled the end of the great hunting in the area. The area was interesting, bug infested but interested.

July 2002. Kankakee River, looking south across towards the south bank and bridge abutment. According to the owner of the property on the north bank, the house across the river is abandoned.

July 2002. Kankakee River, old pilings from original deck and pile trestle. Taken along north bank of the river.

Monon Railroad Historical-Technical member and friend of the Bygone Places web site, Lowell Susdorf sent this photo. Taken in the 1980's after the tracks and bridge were removed. Looking south.

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