The Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad began developing west of Dunton Station — now Arlington Heights — in 1853, but when Palatine-area leaders Joel Wood and Mason Sutherland traveled to Chicago offering railroad executives $10,000 to create a stop in Palatine, they were told it wasn’t enough.

They left indignantly, but were called back before they reached the street and had their offer accepted.

Service on the single-gauge track started in June 1855 with one freight train a day, which came out in the morning and returned at night. Passenger service was inaugurated in December of that year when a large crowd went to Chicago on a free excursion.

Julius Thurston was hired to attend to the freight, check bills and turn the switch. With two others, he filled the water tank that stood west of Brockway Street with a hand pump. For all this work, “Superintendent” Thurston was paid $15 a month.

The railroad company later failed, was reorganized, and became the Chicago and Northwestern in 1859. The Northwestern was unique among American railroad systems in that it was left-handed. Purchase of the original engines from England may be the reason.

• This is the 45th of 150 vignettes about Palatine history to be published in the Daily Herald, as part of the village’s sesquicentennial celebration