Walking Tour of Sheridan Railroad Historic District

A warm, sunny day greeted the nearly 50 people who came out on Saturday, May 16, to The Sheridan Community Land Trust (SCLT) inaugural Sheridan Railroad Historic District guided walking tour.

Led by SCLT History Program Manager Kevin Knapp, who said they have been working on this tour for some time, and that this tour was a test run to see how it goes in the real world.

Knapp said he was deeply grateful to Mickey Douglas and Jean Harm for the many hours of volunteer research that helped bring this walking tour to life.

He encouraged people to disagree and ask questions and give him more history about the area as the tour went along.

The tour started on Grinnell Plaza on the steps of the city hall. Knapp started by talking about the town founder, John D. Loucks, whose statue stands by the City Hall.

He said at first most of the buildings in Sheridan were wooden structures, and were torn down or taken by fire. He said the original wooden town hall was in the general vicinity of the current town He talked about the fire bell that is on display by city hall as as well.

The tour went East on Grinnell street and turned north down Broadway. Knapp said there is a 15 block area that was designed in 2004 on the National Register of Historic Places as the Sheridan Railroad Historic District.

Most of the businesses in what was the commercial district, were once in the area were connected with the railroad in one way or another. Many were warehouses with the store fronts being on Main Street.

He talked about several of the businessmen who helped the town and new state grow.

One concern was the flour mill,

The Denio Family purchased the mill, and ran it for several years, but Knapp said,

Knapp pointed out the Sheridan Commercial Company building, 301 Boardway, the oldest continually operated business in Sheridan. Built by E.A. Whitney in 1887. It sold hardware, implements, clothing, meats and produce.

There were several other interesting history bits about people and buildings along the walk, before it concluded at the Sheridan Inn, the depots and the old locomotive.

Knapp mentioned the Sheridan Inn, and the depots as well.

The walk took a little over an hour, with several pauses to hear the history. Black Tooth Brewing was approximately the half way point, and it gave SCLT permission for the walkers to sit a minute on their outdoor patio.

Knapp said in future tours they might work out something where participants can enjoy a beverage at Black Tooth Brewery to break up the walk.