201 NATIONAL STREET
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
The Elgin National Watch Factory Depot located at 201 National Street is a significant structure within the Elgin National Watch Historic District and one of the last remnants of the Elgin National Watch Company including the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory. The depot was built in 1883 for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad for the convenience of watch factory employees, some of whom worked in the Dundee Township (north of Elgin). As stated in an article in the Elgin Advocate on May 12, 1883:
The long-talked of watch factory depot for the C. & N. W. R. R. is an assured fact. Work was commenced on the structure Wednesday, and it will be a daisy, besides being a great convenience. It will be located just south of National street and will be ornamented by a platform 100 feet long by 40 feet wide; there will also be another platform the height of a freight car, so if that part of the city should be visited by a conflagration and engines be sent us from Chicago, they can be unloaded quickly and without difficulty. It is to be hoped this platform will never have to be used for any such purpose. The depot will be heated by steam and lighted with gas, the watch factory managers generously donating these requisites. It will be a regular station of the road, and tickets will be sold there for Cass’ and Hamilton’s trains south, and for the latter north. A man will be sent from the east side depot to do this work. The depot will be erected as speedily as possible.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Elgin National Watch Factory Depot was designed in the Gothic Revival style with large ornamented vergeboard, brackets with quatrefoil, heavy ornamented window hoods and board and batten siding.
Sources: 1997 Historic Resources Survey