timers that on the day after pay-day at the mines, the Chicago & Alton depot was so crowded with people that the railroad could not accommodate its out-of-town passengers. At the height of the Cold War, the highest spot in town played a role in US defense. Beginning in April 1958, atop the slag pile from the old Wenona coal mine, a radar station was developed which was equipped to detect incoming missiles and enemy airplanes potentially headed to Chicago or Milwaukee. The radar station was manned by approximately 20 troops from the 45th AAA Brigade and the 105th Signal Corps Detachment. It could detect aircraft as far up as in any direction, and as far away as . The Wenona station was one of ten stations set up in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin within of Chicago in the Chicago Air Defense System. The radar station included two metal buildings and the radar antenna. The base of the slag pile was surrounded by a six-strand barbed-wire fence. Prior to constructing the buildings on top of the slag pile, were graded off the top and a circular roadway was built around the slag pile from bottom to top. At least three men who served at the Wenona Radar Station settled in Wenona after completion. The Army left Wenona in 1959, but before leaving town, planted the seeds on the mound which gave way to the beautiful forestry seen today. The Wenona Coal Mine Historical Site was dedicated by members of the Wenona Historical Society on August 10, 2018, during the Wenona Days celebration. Geography Wenona is located in easternmost Marshall County at (41.053080, −89.053415). Most of the city lies in Marshall County, although two small areas of about a block each extend east into southern LaSalle County. In the 2000 census, all of Wenona's 1,065 residents lived in Marshall County. As of 2022, Wenona has a total area of , all land. Illinois Route 17 passes through Wenona as Chestnut Street. The highway leads east to Dwight and west to Lacon, the Marshall county seat. Illinois Route 251 joins Route 17 on Chestnut Street through the center of Wenona but leads north to Lostant and south to Rutland. Interstate 39 passes just west of Wenona, with access from Exit 35 south of the city; I-39 leads north to La Salle and south to Normal. Wenona is drained to the north by