Ontario and Western Railroad Passenger Station

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Ontario and Western Railroad Passenger Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Station building in 2007
Station building in 2007
Location: Napanoch, NY
Nearest city: Middletown
Coordinates: 41°44′24″N 74°21′55″W / 41.74, -74.36528Coordinates: 41°44′24″N 74°21′55″W / 41.74, -74.36528
Built/Founded: 1903
Architect: Jackson, Rosencrans & Canfield
Architectural style(s): Classical Revival
Added to NRHP: 1999
NRHP Reference#: 99000086
Governing body: New York State Department of Correctional Services

The Ontario and Western Railroad Passenger Station is located on Institution Road, between Eastern Correctional Facility and Rondout Creek, near Napanoch, New York, USA. It was built by the New York, Ontario and Western Railway (O & W) in 1903 for the dual purpose of bringing tourists to Napanoch and inmates to the newly-established prison.

A branch from Ellenville to Kerhonkson was opened in 1902, following the recently-abandoned Delaware and Hudson Canal, a portion of which survives just west of the station building. A temporary station at the present site served passengers while the New York City firm of Jackson, Rosencrans & Canfield designed and built a permanent station in a Classical Revival style. After slightly over $7,000 was spent, it opened the following year.[1]

Passenger service ended when the railroad was forced to cut back operations in the 1950s, and the original domed roof had deteriorated to the point that it was replaced with the current tiled version. The tracks were removed shortly after the railroad was liquidated following its bankruptcy in 1957.[1]

It became the property of the state Department of Correctional Services, which owned the surrounding land as part of the prison property. Eventually it was renovated and reopened as a museum devoted to its past and the O & W. A small section of track next to it was restored and some of the former railroad's rolling stock salvaged and put on display.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Bonafide, John (October 1998). National Register of Historic Places nomination, Ontario and Western Railroad Passenger Station. Retrieved on 2008-01-06.

[edit] External links