Birds’ local history can be traced particularly well through the railroad. The town was founded in 1878 after John Bird Jr. donated land for the Wabash St. Louis and Pacific Railroad. The donation also included a plot for the depot. This means the town’s founding and the planned railroad have been closely linked in their history from the outset.
The Town’s Founding and the Railroad Through the Years
In the same year, Birds Station was surveyed and platted by J. B. Benefiel, the county surveyor; the plat was recorded on September 10, 1878. Also in 1878, Isaac Baldridge built the first frame house in Birds Station and operated the post office there. The survey and platting gave Birds Station its shape, and the first frame house also served as the post office.
The railroad itself also changed ownership over time. In 1889, it was incorporated into the Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Chicago Railroad, known as the Big 4. In the early 20th century, the New York Central Railroad took over the railroad. Another change concerned the depot: in 1915, a more modern building replaced the old one. The historical account describes the replacement of the buildings, not the present-day existence of a depot.
Two more dates mark different changes to passenger service and the route. Passenger service ended in 1957 on the Danville line that ran through Birds. The section of the line to Cairo that ran through Birds was abandoned in 1980. The “Egyptian” passenger train used to run on the route through Birds; this train carried a Pullman car between Chicago and Cairo, Illinois.
Other Chapters in the Town’s History
In addition to the railroad and the town’s founding, Birds has other historical connections. The W.H. Fritchie Post of the Grand Army of the Republic was associated with the town. The Birds Free Methodist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary. A flood devastated large parts of what remained of the town in 1997; Birds was unincorporated at the time. These events point to different aspects of the town’s history: a historical organization, a church anniversary, and a far-reaching change in the town.
Nature in the Wider Travel Area
For a look beyond Birds, the natural areas in the wider travel area offer a focus of their own. The 627-acre Chauncey Marsh Nature Preserve is an outlying area of Red Hills State Park in Lawrence County. Its habitats include marshes, dry and wet prairie, bottomland forest, and river habitats. The different landscape types give the preserve a diverse ecological profile.
Red Hills State Park in Lawrence County covers 967 acres and features wooded hills, deep ravines, meadows, and springs that flow year-round. The described highlights therefore differ: the Chauncey Marsh Nature Preserve focuses on wetlands and several habitat types, while Red Hills State Park also features hills, ravines, meadows, and springs. This information about nature relates to the wider travel area, not to a location within Birds. As conditions and access may change, check current park information before visiting.
Travelers choosing destinations by their main attractions will find that Birds focuses primarily on railroad history; the protected natural areas offer a broader perspective on the wider travel area. Discover more destinations: St Francisville.
View the wider travel overview: Lawrence.
