Fairfield Heritage Trail :: Buildings 42 & 43

42.

Louden Depot Community Credit Union, rebuilt 1940's
611 W. Broadway Avenue

This former train station served the Rock Island Railroad. In 1870 the Fairfield city fathers lobbied the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad (which became the Rock Island) to come through Fairfield instead of Ottumwa to provide competition for the C. B & Q.

The Louden Company became one of the largest shippers in the Mid-west.

The Rock Island carried freight and passengers until its demise in 1980. Other parts of the abandoned railroad roadbed are now used for a bike/hiking trail.

The deluxe passenger rail cars and cabooses you may see belong to Rail Merchants International.

43.

Whitney Monuments Company, 1925, formally Heston & Anderson
601 W. Depot Avenue, at N. 6th Street

Former Louden employees went into business (Heston and Anderson) for themselves manufacturing band saws and other wood working equipment.

This is a typical single-story Louden out-building design with a hollow tile foundation and Louden Ventilators topped by simple arrow-type wind vanes.

Inside is an overhead carrier, an early WORKING example of a non-agricultural application of Louden technology.

In 1934 Heston and Anderson built a new building at 601 W. Kirkwood, and Whitney Monuments moved here. They have been careful to preserve the original look of the building.

See a cut-away Louden Ventilator catalogue page