PHOTOS: Recognizing the historic Galesburg Boxcar Camps

The Carl Sandburg College Hispanic-Latino Student Association and the Hispanic Latino Resource Group, Inc. hosted a dedication ceremony Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, for the plaques created and installed by the City of Galesburg recognizing the location of the four Railroad Camps, where the workers of the C. B. & Q. and the Santa Fe Railroads lived beginning in circa 1917 to 1956.

The dedication ceremony was at the Santa Fe Camp monument site, located in the 1200 block of West Berrien Street.

In October 2022, the City of Galesburg issued a proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month, which noted the boxcar families, many of whom lived in Galesburg. Thanks to research by the Hispanic Latino Student Association at Carl Sandburg College, information was provided to the City of Galesburg, and a request made for plaques to be installed at the four sites of the former camps, which honor the Mexican boxcar workers’ contributions to the community.

The plaques were presented to descendants of the boxcar families at a City Council meeting in the spring of 2023 and have now been installed at the four camp locations: Davis Camp (1600 S. West St.), Santa Fe Camp (West Berrien Street, east of Dietrich Avenue), the West Humps Camp (South Henderson Street and County 10), and the Tie Plant Camp (Route 41 and Munson Road).

(Photos courtesy Carl Sandburg College)

LISTEN: Railroad Boxcar Camp Plaque Dedication Ceremony

Descendants of families who lived in Galesburg Railroad Camps attend a plaque dedication ceremony Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Galesburg. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

Members of the Carl Sandburg College Hispanic-Latino Student Association and the Hispanic Latino Resource Group, Inc. hosted a dedication ceremony Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, for the plaques created and installed by the City of Galesburg recognizing the location of the four Railroad Camps, where the workers of the C. B. & Q. and the Santa Fe Railroads lived beginning in circa 1917 to 1956. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

The Carl Sandburg College Hispanic-Latino Student Association and the Hispanic Latino Resource Group, Inc. hosted a dedication ceremony Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, for the plaques created and installed by the City of Galesburg recognizing the location of the four Railroad Camps, where the workers of the C. B. & Q. and the Santa Fe Railroads lived beginning in circa 1917 to 1956. The dedication ceremony was at the Santa Fe Camp monument site, located in the 1200 block of West Berrien Street. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

Nayana Foshay and Azaria Foshay and members of the Sandburg Hispanic-Latino Student Association address the crowd at a plaque dedication ceremony marking the location of four Railroad Camps on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Galesburg. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

Carl Sandburg College Director of Diversity and Inclusion Anthony Law addresses the crowd at a plaque dedication ceremony marking the location of four Railroad Camps on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Galesburg. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman addresses the crowd at a plaque dedication ceremony marking the location of four Railroad Camps on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Galesburg. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

Margo Davila addresses the crowd at a plaque dedication ceremony marking the location of four Railroad Camps on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Galesburg. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)

Irene Ponce addresses the crowd at a plaque dedication ceremony marking the location of four Railroad Camps on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Galesburg. (BILL GAITHER/CARL SANDBURG COLLEGE)