Editor’s note: The Champaign County Historical Society is sharing with readers a collection of “Then and Now” photos of the area.
A pair of “Then and Now” photo collections created by Ward Lutz pictures the “Pennsylvania Railroad Erie Passenger Depot” postcard, circa 1910, at 644 Miami Street, Urbana. Artifact # A787 photo postcard was taken from the south side of Miami Street looking northeast. Note that in the old photo the street was unpaved. The 2015 photo shows “The Depot Coffee House” uses the old train depot building, which now also provides public restrooms for the Simon Kenton Pathfinders’ Bike Trail that is in the background of the “Now” photo taken by Ward Lutz, active member of the Champaign County Historical Society and Museum at 809 East Lawn Avenue, Urbana, Ohio.
The Society is always interested in old photos of sites in Champaign County and has an extensive collection of photos on file at the museum and catalogued on line at www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org. Admittance to the museum is free to the public on Monday and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Currently operated with all volunteers, the museum is always looking for volunteers to help with data entry on the computer and help with new projects and the annual Oktoberfest family event that helps them with operating funds along with membership fees, and donations.
