Sometime ago, Rita T. gave me a copy of a great picture taken from the top of the old water tower looking toward the northwest part of town. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy train depot is right in the center of the picture with the tracks going from the bottom left of the photo to the upper right corner. A passenger train heading north is waiting for several people to board and an old car is there to either pick up or drop off a passenger. To the left of the tracks, you can see part of the Miner & Frees Lumber yard and just north of the water tower is the Switzler & Son grain elevator. There are two rail cars parked northeast of the grain elevator near the stock yards stood. To the northwest, you can just barely see the city park and several homes that are still standing today. According to “Ridgeway: Then & Now”, the original water tower was built in 1923 and the grain elevator was built in 1900. Based on the look of the car by the depot, I think this photo may have been taken soon after the water tower was completed. Thank you to Bob and Rita for this wonderful and detailed picture of old Ridgeway!
