Red Oak

Things to do...
Hiking
Bicycling
Snowmobiling
Cross Country Skiing

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This trail is part of
The Grand Illinois Trail

Traveling the Trail
Here are some interesting trail facts; follow the lettered posts on the trail.

Winner of the 2003 Coalition of Recreational Trails Award for construction and design.

Hunting Seasons
The Trail will remain open during the 2009/2010 Illinois Hunting seasons. It is strongly recommended that anyone using the trail during designated hunting dates wear the standard, hunter-recognized blaze orange apparel.

Hunters are not allowed to hunt or carry weapons on, or shoot across, the trail right-of-way, or to use the trail as an access to hunting areas. Hunters are allowed to cross the trail, and to retrieve game that has fallen on the trail right-of-way.

The 2009/2010 season’s hunting dates are: October 10, 11; November 20, 21, 22; December 3, 4, 5, 6, (11, 12, 13 Muzzleloader), 31; January 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17.

For more information contact:

Freeport/Stephenson County Convention and Visitors Bureau
4596 US Highway 20 East
Freeport, IL 61032
815-233-1357
800-369-2955
www.stephenson-county-il-org

Trail History – Communities – Red Oak

Red Oak is located on the Richland Creek about two miles south of Buena Vista and is in Buckeye Township. Johnathon Sill operated a crude mill during the early 1850s in the area of what was to be Red Oak. In 1887 the Illinois Central Railroad began its northern line from Freeport to Madison and Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The small village of Red Oak did not exist until the railroad decided that the W.R. Bender farm would provide an excellent spot for a junction station. The junction station was built to support the Dodgeville branch of the Madison line.

The station was first named “Cedarville Junction.” However; the United States Post Office disliked the name and changed it to “Red Oak Station” for a red oak tree which grew on the right of way. W.R. Bender laid out the village, opened the first general store and became the first postmaster in 1888. A farmer’s cooperative creamery was started in 1894, followed by a cheese factory. The “Red Oak Dairy” remained in business for many years although it changed hands frequently. The village once had a “Modern Woodman” lodge and a “Mystic Workers” lodge. The station was closed in 1950 and the last general store, owned by Glenn Harnish, closed its doors in the mid 1950s.