WEST SHORE STATION - N E W B U R G H - STANDING ALONE on what was once the main north-south traffic artery in Newburgh is the old West Shore Railroad station. Driving through the city on this road the station is impossible to miss - I can remember seeing it even as a small child.
"Click on image to enlarge." IT WAS BUILT in 1909 on what is known as the West Shore line, a branch of the New York Central named for the smaller railroad which the Central bought-out several years earlier. Almost certainly the building was designed by Warren and Wetmore, who had been commissioned by the railroad to design a family of stations, including those at Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park and Rhinecliff.
THE RAILROAD later commissioned Warren & Wetmore (with the firm of Reed and Stem) to design the Central's station at Detroit. The two firms can also be credited for what is perhaps the most celebrated railroad station of all time, Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
THE STATION at Newburgh was masterfully designed. Indeed, similarities can be seen between this station and its larger cousins at Poughkeepsie, Detroit and New York. Brick walls in Flemish Bond make up the bulk of the building's exterior, with a Beaux-Arts pediment surmounting the main entranceway.
GRAND as Newburgh's station was, it would serve its last passengers in 1958. The building has been boarded-up ever since. Fires and the removal of shingles have led to the partial collapse of the roof, while not a single pane of glass seems to remain intact. Yet the building retains its graceful beauty, which is further complemented by its backdrop - a stunning view of the Hudson Highlands. BEHIND THE STATION, where the concrete platform once handled hoards of passengers each day, a small forest is beginning to grow. On my visit, one door hung open in this area, but fearful of what might live inside I restrained myself from exploring. NEWBURGH STATION is a magnificent little building, embodying in its relatively small form the very best architecture of its day. Its loss really would be an unnecessary tragedy. What a wonderful restaurant it would make if the right developer came along - which reminds me: the number on the for-sale sign is 914-928-2118. UPDATE: The station was purchased by developers in 2001, who intended to rehabilitate the building as a restaurant. In 2002 workmen began clearing debris and installing a new roof, but progress came to a halt shortly thereafter. Work has since resumed and while the building remained empty in 2009 things are looking much better. © T.E. Rinaldi, 2006
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