This is a 1909 photo (#A416) of the Brush Lake railroad tower. Unfortunately, the Champaign County Historical Society does not have a photo of the Brush Lake Depot.
Brush Lake was the next stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad west of Fountain Park. At the turn of the century Brush Lake was a popular fishing/bathing and holiday resort site.
There was a hotel and cabins to accommodate vacationers; there was also an open-air dance pavilion. Brush Lake had a skating rink. The lake also served as a source of block ice which was shipped to market by rail.
Source: Railroad Heritage 1905 – 2005 The Champaign County Preservation Alliance
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The Champaign County Historical Museum is a not-for-profit organization that depends upon donations and dues to preserve, protect, archive and display the artifacts that tell the Champaign County story. The free public museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana, is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
