I got a job at Morgan Dye, A textile factory in 1970 making $1.80 an hour. Other factories such as Swift meat packing and many others were running strong. A very vibrant town with a center core of community. I was back there a couple years ago and it is desolate, with no core of community like back in those days. The movie, theater, downtown, Frankie’s Tavern, and picnic in the park with families. Long gone.
The Union pacific on the Geneva sub has got rid of cab signals so other railroad companies can lead and south of Rochelle will be the new local intermodal transfer yard still in the works the railroad park will get a new update under construction as of early April and more to come
Maybe, especially with the Facebook facility being built just to the east in DeKalb, but I believe they need to triple track it from Geneva thru Rochelle in order it to work efficiently though I imagine new stops on the extension to Rochelle being: Maple Park, Cortland, DeKalb-Downtown, DeKalb-NIU, Malta (With shuttles to Kishwaukee Community College during the school year), Creston, and finally Rochelle
@@ProspectElevators As best I can tell Rochellle is about 80 miles from Chicago. That's a haul to be sure, but not beyond the limit for commuter rail. Metro North's Harlem line from Grand Central to Wassaic is 82 miles and at least pre-Covid averaged about 200 daily commuters. The Long Island Rail Road stretches 115 miles from Penn Station to Montauk, though as I understand it very few people commute every day that far.
That won’t happen the Rockford route is in the works with a extension to Dubuque Iowa. Should be finished in 2 years. Will follow the Up route that is now being used to haul Chrysler Jeep’s to west Chicago.
Rochelle's definitely has had some hard hits over the past 5 years including the recent shutdown of Byron but with it being a hub, it's still gonna survive somewhat
There building a newer intermodal south of town and a new welding company just open in Rochelle so it's not going any were G3 will become a big train yard soon
There are quite a few interesting shops downtown that the viewers might be interested in. You walked past a brand new clothing store, a bistro, a new distillery, excellent pizza place, and a sculptor, and the historical society, all right there in downtown.
Excellent video, thank you for taking the time to show the world our little town.
Thank you
I like this Downtown series! A lot of these small towns have fascinating histories and downtowns if you take the time to look in and around.
I got a job at Morgan Dye, A textile factory in 1970 making $1.80 an hour. Other factories such as Swift meat packing and many others were running strong. A very vibrant town with a center core of community. I was back there a couple years ago and it is desolate, with no core of community like back in those days. The movie, theater, downtown, Frankie’s Tavern, and picnic in the park with families. Long gone.
The Union pacific on the Geneva sub has got rid of cab signals so other railroad companies can lead and south of Rochelle will be the new local intermodal transfer yard still in the works the railroad park will get a new update under construction as of early April and more to come
I spotted one of our cars in downtown🤣🤣
You stop by we should have had lunch you in my home town.
If you want, I could upload a video of downtown Rochelle in 2019 of the Carnival running when life was normal before the Covid?
It would be quite a stretch, but if Metra ever extended its service to Rochelle the town would get a big economic and population boost.
Maybe, especially with the Facebook facility being built just to the east in DeKalb, but I believe they need to triple track it from Geneva thru Rochelle in order it to work efficiently though
I imagine new stops on the extension to Rochelle being: Maple Park, Cortland, DeKalb-Downtown, DeKalb-NIU, Malta (With shuttles to Kishwaukee Community College during the school year), Creston, and finally Rochelle
@@ProspectElevators As best I can tell Rochellle is about 80 miles from Chicago. That's a haul to be sure, but not beyond the limit for commuter rail. Metro North's Harlem line from Grand Central to Wassaic is 82 miles and at least pre-Covid averaged about 200 daily commuters. The Long Island Rail Road stretches 115 miles from Penn Station to Montauk, though as I understand it very few people commute every day that far.
@@R32R38 Commuter rail for me is about 100 miles maximum, so it can definitely work albeit a 2 hour ride to Chicago and back with stops
I work for metra and elburn is the closest train in to Chicago
That won’t happen the Rockford route is in the works with a extension to Dubuque Iowa. Should be finished in 2 years. Will follow the Up route that is now being used to haul Chrysler Jeep’s to west Chicago.
I live two minutes from down town
When did you fill this
@@jasonking5710 July 17th on a Saturday.
A little town getting a Starbucks soon there still building it
Interesting
Than Walmart came along and sucked all the family businesses out of business in the Rochelle downtown district. 😢
Not really many of them are opening up
Next time you go there go to Aldos pizza, real good pizza
Rochelle's definitely has had some hard hits over the past 5 years including the recent shutdown of Byron but with it being a hub, it's still gonna survive somewhat
There building a newer intermodal south of town and a new welding company just open in Rochelle so it's not going any were G3 will become a big train yard soon
As soon as they open a superwalmart downtowns die
You walked through downtown, but you really didn’t show anything.
Ok????
There are quite a few interesting shops downtown that the viewers might be interested in. You walked past a brand new clothing store, a bistro, a new distillery, excellent pizza place, and a sculptor, and the historical society, all right there in downtown.