Deerfield station
| Company type | Commuter rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Headquarters | Deerfield, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Passenger rail services |
Deerfield ranks as one of the two Metra commuter rail stops situated in Deerfield, Illinois along the Milwaukee District North Line. Positioned at 860 Deerfield Road, just two blocks west of Illinois State Route 43, the station is located from Chicago Union Station, which serves as the southern endpoint of the route. It facilitates travel for passengers commuting between Union Station and Fox Lake, Illinois. In 2018, Deerfield was the 39th most frequented among Metra's 236 stations outside downtown, with an average of 1,133 boardings on weekdays. Initially constructed for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, this station replaced two earlier facilities.
Effective July 15, 2024, every Milwaukee District North Line train makes a stop at Deerfield, including a total of 54 trains on weekdays (27 in each direction), 20 on Saturdays (10 each way), and 18 on Sundays and holidays (nine each direction). On weekdays, one inbound service begins here while one outbound train concludes its route at this station.
The parking area east of the station is utilized for the Deerfield Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings from June through October.
History
Deerfield's initial train station was a provisional boxcar placed by the Milwaukee Road in 1872 on Central Avenue (formerly Hall Avenue) while a permanent facility was being constructed two blocks to the south; this permanent station also opened that year. The present-day station, which replaced both former stations, was erected in 1903 following community requests for a more centrally positioned location. Designed by architect Jay W. Nettenstrom, it incorporates design elements from the American Craftsman and Prairie architectural styles, resembling other Milwaukee Road stations such as the one in Walworth, Wisconsin.
In 1913, an underpass was constructed just south of the station to enable Deerfield Road to pass underneath the railroad tracks. A fire in 1917 devastated much of the building except for the freight room. Architect Charles Rawson directed restoration and expansion efforts while preserving features including historic double-hung windows and original radiator units resting on the 1903 foundation.
By 1973, Milwaukee Road intended to demolish this station along with five others in Northeastern Illinois to replace them with simple concrete shelters; however, public resistance led to a preservation effort instead. The Deerfield Area Historical Society formulated a restoration plan, and in 1974 the Village of Deerfield obtained $65,000 in federal funding to support rehabilitation work. Volunteers from local Jaycees contributed by painting and performing repairs.
On February 5, 1998, the station was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
No Kissing Zone
In 1979, Deerfield station attracted national media coverage when local officials implemented a "No-Kissing Zone" aimed at reducing traffic congestion caused by couples lingering at drop-off points. The uniquely designed "No-Kissing" signs, inspired by international traffic symbols, were highlighted in Time magazine and ABC's AM America. A family from Deerfield even gifted game show host Richard Dawson with replica pins featuring these signs. Despite this regulation, Deerfield station appeared in the 1983 movie Risky Business.
Bus connections
- 471 Highland Park – Northbrook Court (operates Monday through Saturday)