Y'all Meeta Wayne, Illinois: Horses, Castles, and a Twist

Wayne, Illinois, isn't your typical hustling town - it's way more laid-back. But don't let that pстеial vibe fool ya. This little rural joint hides a century-old history deep down. Established back in the 1800s, it got its name from a community called Wayne Center, which is now. well, *poof*! Gone. But the story of Wayne ain't over yet. The late 1800s and early 1900s were the heydays for horse breeding and agricultural research in Wayne. This sleepy rur-al valley made a name for itself as a hub for French Percheron horses, a breed that's kinda like Clydesdales.

Mark Dunham, a horse breeder, constructed this here castle between 1878 and 1882, inspired by those Normans. Yep, you guessed it! It's none other than Dunham Castle, the only dining spot and social club in Wayne! Oaklawn Farm, founded in 1866, was one of the earliest Percheron breeding farms in the U.S, and ol' Mark Dunham is known as the ‘Pops of the Percheron in North America. Now, here's the twist: In October 2007, the historic Chicago and Northwestern railway station was moved from Dunham Castle back to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad tracks at Army Trail Road.

There's a story behind this move: the building that's there now was moved to Dunham Castle during the 1940s or 50s, and was later moved back to its original location. It's now undergoing a restoration.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons