{{short description|Commuter rail station in Deerfield, Illinois}} {{for|the station in Deerfield Beach, Florida|Deerfield Beach station}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station|name={{Metra header | name=Deerfield | icon={{ric|Metra|mdn}} }} | type= | image=Deerfield Metra station.jpg | image_caption=Deerfield station in July&nbsp;2022. | style=Metra | address=860 Deerfield Road<br />[[Deerfield, Illinois]] | line=[[C&M Subdivision]] | other={{bus icon|12px|Local Transit}} '''[[Pace (transit)|Pace Buses]]''' | structure= | platform=2 [[side platform]]s | depth= | levels= | tracks=2 | parking=On street | bicycle= | opened=1872 | closed= | rebuilt=1900, 1917 | electrified= | accessible=Yes | code= | owned= Village of Deerfield | zone=4 | former= | passengers=1,133 (average weekday)<ref name=":0" /> | pass_year=2018 | pass_percent=-11.6 | pass_rank=39 out of 236<ref name=":0" /> | pass_system= | services= {{Adjacent stations|system=Metra|line=Milwaukee District/North|left=Lake Forest|right=Lake Cook Road}} |other_services_header = Former services |other_services_collapsible = yes |other_services= {{Adjacent stations|system1=Milwaukee Road |line2=main|left2=Sturtevant|right2=Western Avenue |line3=Chicago-Milwaukee|left3=West Lake Forest|right3=Techny |line4=North|left4=West Lake Forest|right4=Techny}} | nrhp= {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Passenger Depot | image = Chicago,_Milwaukee_and_St._Paul_Railway_Passenger_Depot.JPG | image_size = 300px | caption = | location = [[Deerfield, Illinois]], USA | coordinates = {{coord|42|10|05|N|87|51|00|W|type:railwaystation_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail |marker-color=#e97300 |zoom=15 }} | area = | built = 1917 | architect = | architecture = | added = February 5, 1998 | refnum = 98000066 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = }} | map_state = collapsed | route_map = {{Routemap|legend=track|inline=y|map= RP2!~MFADEg\vSTR!~MFADEg\RP2!~MFADEg~~ ~~ ~~ {{rint|Chicago|MDN}} north to {{stl|Metra|Fox Lake}} RP2\vSTR\RP2!~POINTERg@fq ~~ ~~ Park Ave. RP23+n!~MFADE3+1!~PLTl\vSTR\PLTr!~RP2 PLTl!~POINTERg@g\vSTR\PLTr!~RP2 ~~ ~~ Chestnut St. \PLTl\vSTR\RP1!~RP2l!~PLTr\RP2q!~MFADEfq ~~ ~~ Jewett Park Dr. PLTl\vSTR\PLTr!~RP1!~NULg RP2q!~MFADEgq\RP2q\hvSTR\RP1l!~RP2q\RP2q!~MFADEfq ~~ ~~ Deerfield Rd. vSTR!~MFADEf~~ ~~ ~~ {{rint|Chicago|MDN}} south to {{stl|Metra|Union Station}} }} }} '''Deerfield''' is one of two [[Metra]] commuter railroad stations in [[Deerfield, Illinois]] along the [[Milwaukee District North Line]]. It is located at 860 Deerfield Road, 2 blocks west of [[Illinois State Route 43]], is {{convert|24.6|mi|km}} away from [[Chicago Union Station]], the southern terminus of the line.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://web.me.com/willvdv/chirailfan/mmmilwn.html |title=Metra Railfan Tips - Milwaukee District/North Line |access-date=2009-12-01 |archive-date=2010-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129044713/http://web.me.com/willvdv/chirailfan/mmmilwn.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The station serves commuters between Union Station and [[Fox Lake, Illinois]]. As of 2018, Deerfield is the 39th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 1,133 weekday boardings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_summary_results_report_final.pdf|title=Commuter Rail System Station Boarding/Alighting Count: Summary Results Fall 2018|date=April 2019|website=Metra|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526034459/https://metrarail.com/sites/default/files/assets/planning/ridership/2018_summary_results_report_final.pdf|archive-date=26 May 2019|url-status=}}</ref> The current station originally served the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad]], and replaced two older stations built by the railway.

As of July 15, 2024, all Milwaukee District North trains make a scheduled stop in Deerfield, including 54 trains (27 in each direction) on weekdays, 20 trains (10 in each direction) on Saturdays, and 18 trains (nine in each direction) on Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, one inbound train originates here, and one outbound train terminates here.

The commuter parking lot east of the station and tracks is the site of the Deerfield Farmer's Market, Saturday Mornings from June to October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deerfield.il.us/301/Farmers-Market|title=Farmers Market {{!}} Deerfield, IL|website=www.deerfield.il.us|access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>

== History == The first train station in Deerfield was a temporary boxcar installed by the [[Milwaukee Road]] in 1872.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Deerfield Area Historical Society|url=https://deerfieldhistoricalsociety.org/history.html|access-date=2021-04-04|website=deerfieldhistoricalsociety.org}}</ref> Situated on Central Avenue, then called Hall Avenue, it was used as a temporary station while a permanent station was being constructed. The replacement structure was built about 2 blocks to the south of the current station and opened in 1872. The present station, which replaced both previous stations, was built in 1903 after a petition was circulated to have a train station closer to the center of the village.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Reichelt|first=Marie|url=https://archives.deerfieldlibrary.org/files/original/5973bba590ce9161525ab4b00e032734.pdf|title=History of Deerfield, Illinois|publisher=Glenview Press|year=1928|pages=20–21}}</ref> Architect Jay W. Nettenstrom designed the station using [[American Craftsman]] and [[Prairie School|Prairie-style]] principles.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Liebenson|first=Donald|title=Deerfield Station, from 'eye sore' to landmark|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-0925-landmark-deerfield-20160919-story.html|access-date=2021-04-04|website=chicagotribune.com|date=19 September 2016 }}</ref> The station is similar in design to other stations along the Milwaukee Road, including the station in [[Walworth, Wisconsin]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893392|title=Illinois SP Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Passenger Depot|date=1998-01-09|series=File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: Illinois, 1964 - 2013}}</ref>

In 1913, an underpass was built to the south of the station to allow Deerfield Road to flow under the tracks. The station caught on fire in 1917 with only the freight room surviving.<ref>[http://deerfield-il.org/community/historical.html Village of Deerfield Historical Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730122453/http://deerfield-il.org/community/historical.html|date= July 30, 2007}}</ref> The building was repaired and enlarged according to a new plan by architect Charles Rawson. The current station was built on the foundation of the 1903 station, and retains many features from when it was rebuilt after the fire, including historical [[Sash window|double-hung windows]] and [[radiator]]s.<ref name=":2" />

In 1973, the Milwaukee Road had planned to tear down the station, along with five other stations in Northeastern Illinois, and replace it with a concrete shelter.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1973-01-01|title=Transit District Awarded Grant|work=The Milwaukee Road Magazine|publisher=Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad}}</ref> This plan, though, was shelved in favor of a restoration due to public outcry. The Deerfield Area Historical Society created a plan to repair and rehab the station to prevent demolition. In 1974, the Village of Deerfield received $65,000 in federal funds to restore the station. The local [[United States Junior Chamber|Jaycees]] volunteered to paint and restore the station.<ref name=":1" />

The station was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on February 5, 1998.<ref>[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/IL/Lake/state.html Lake County Listings at the National Register of Historic Places]</ref>

=== No Kissing Zone === Deerfield station became nationally famous in 1979, when Deerfield village officials created a "No-Kissing Zone" at the station in response to complaints about traffic jams caused by couples taking too long to [[kiss]] their goodbyes at the drop-off point. The "No-Kissing" signs (patterned after international [[traffic sign]]s) attracted national attention and were featured in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine and ABC's ''AM America'' (precursor to ''[[Good Morning America]]''). A Deerfield family appearing on the game show ''[[Family Feud]]'' presented [[Richard Dawson]] with replica pins of the signs. Despite this restriction, the station is shown in the 1983 Paul Brickman film ''[[Risky Business]]''.

==Bus connections== '''[[Pace (transit)|Pace]]''' * 471 [[Highland Park, Illinois|Highland Park]] – [[Northbrook Court]] (Monday-Saturday only)<ref>{{Cite web|title=471 - Highland Park – Northbrook Court {{!}} Pace Suburban Bus|url=https://www.pacebus.com/route/471|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.pacebus.com}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Deerfield station}} {{Metra web|Milwaukee District/North|DEERFIELD}} *[http://www.depotmaps.com/Images/DepotIL/Deerfield3.jpg Dynamic Depot Maps image] *[https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=42.167292,-87.849405&spn=0.00396,0.013722&z=17&layer=c&cbll=42.167302,-87.849857&panoid=u2kcZD32f3blXl5WEKT0uA&cbp=12,97.2,,0,-10.77 Station from Google Maps Street View] {{Metra stations navbox}} {{Deerfield, Illinois}} {{National Register of Historic Places}}

[[Category:Metra stations in Illinois]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lake County, Illinois]] [[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1872]] [[Category:Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois]] [[Category:Former Milwaukee Road stations]] [[Category:Deerfield, Illinois]] [[Category:Railway stations in Lake County, Illinois]] [[Category:1872 establishments in Illinois]]