Central Vermont Railway Depot (Northfield, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Central Vermont Railway Depot
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | W end of Depot Sq Northfield, Vermont |
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| Built | 1852 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000145 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1975 |
The Central Vermont Railway Depot is a historic former train station. It is located in Northfield, Vermont. This building was constructed in 1852. Many people believe it is the oldest train station still standing in Vermont. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it is a very important historical site.
About the Old Train Station
The Central Vermont Railway Depot is on the west side of Northfield's Depot Square. It was once part of a much larger area with many buildings. These buildings were all built by the Central Vermont Railway. This included places like the Northfield Wood Company and other train yard buildings.
Today, many of these old buildings are still there. Some have been turned into small offices. Others are used for storage by local businesses. Sadly, some buildings are empty.
What it Looked Like and Its Story
The train station is a two-story building. It is made of brick and sits on a stone foundation. The roof has deep overhangs, about 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. These overhangs are supported by decorative wooden ends.
The windows are mostly double-hung. They are set in rectangular openings. They have granite sills and tops. The window above the main entrance is a special three-part window. The front and back gables (the triangular parts of the wall under the roof) have fancy wooden decorations. These decorations are in a style called Stick style.
The depot was built in 1852. But it was changed quite a bit in the late 1890s. At that time, parts of the building on the sides were removed. The Victorian Stick style decorations were added then. A large cover over the platform, where people waited for trains, was taken down in the mid-1900s.
The Station's Later Years
In the 1970s, fewer industries were in the area. This meant fewer trains were needed. The station had to stop operating. For several years, the building started to fall apart. Because of this, the side wings that had been added were taken down.
As of 2006, the closest train stations still working were in Randolph to the south. Another was in Montpelier to the north. Roxbury, a small village about 10 miles (16 km) south of Northfield, also had a train station. It closed shortly after the Central Vermont Railway Depot.
Today, the old depot building has a Merchant's Bank inside it. It's cool to see how an old train station can be used for something new!
