The Grossdale Railroad station is the oldest intact station on the Burlington's commuter line.
Built in 1889 for $5,000 by real estate developer Samuel Eberly
Gross, the Station was part of the beginning of the Village.
Gross gave people free train rides to the new subdivision and met the arriving groups with a band. He then plied them with hot dogs and lemonade while he made his pitch. Much land was sold during the Columbian Exposition held in 1893, the year Grossdale was incorporated.
After the turn of the century, Gross began having financial difficulties and was no longer providing financial support to the Village. Also, the liberal use of his name on many buildings and streets annoyed the citizens to the point that they wanted to change the town's name. A contest was held with the name "Brookfield" getting the most votes. The Village's name was formally changed in August of 1905. however, the name "Grossdale" remained on the station until 1907, when the Burlington bought all three depots in town from Gross for $25,000.
In 1977, the Burlington announced plans to demolish the Station, which had been allowed to deteriorate. At this point, a group of seven dedicated, far-sighted and tenacious residents formed the Brookfield Historical Society to try to save the Station. They proceeded, against almost overwhelming odds to generate support and funding to have the old Station moved from its original site, near where the present station stands.
April 9, 1981 was the day of the move. The town was filled with an air excitement. A large crowd gathered with some people expecting to see the old building collapse into a pile of rubble! The event was even covered by the Chicago TV stations. The tension was palpable as the able workmen painstakingly coaxed the antique structure onto the moving bed. Literally inch by inch, over the better part of the day, the Station was maneuvered to where it now stands. Its present location is the site of the original Village Hall which was built in 1899 and razed in 1974. The site lies within the original boundaries of Grossdale.
One of Brookfield's first public buildings, and the only one still remaining, the Station continues to our past. The Station is now on the National Historical Register.
Brookfield Historical Society