Roxbury station facts for kids

The Roxbury train station is an old building in Roxbury, New York. It used to be a busy stop on the Ulster and Delaware Railroad. This railroad was also known as the West Shore "Catskill Mountain Branch."

Today, the station is no longer used for trains. It is part of a special area called the Ulster and Delaware Railroad Depot and Mill Complex. This complex is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important place that helps tell the story of the past.

The Roxbury Station's Early Days

The Roxbury train station was first built in January 1872. It was constructed by a company called the Rondout & Oswego Railroad. Just a few months later, in April 1872, this company changed its name. It became the New York, Kingston and Syracuse Railroad.

This new railroad company did not last very long. By 1875, it was reorganized again. This time, it became the famous Ulster & Delaware Railroad.

When the station was first built, it was a simple rectangular building. Inside, a wall separated the space into two main areas. One side was for passengers waiting for their trains. The other side was used for handling freight, which means goods and packages.

How the Station Changed Over Time

Between 1888 and 1891, the Ulster & Delaware Railroad made big changes to the station. Some people believe that Helen Gould Shepherd helped design or pay for these updates. She was the daughter of a very rich railroad owner named Jay Gould.

Local stories say that Helen wanted a fancier waiting room. She wanted a nice place for her friends and family to wait for trains. So, a new section was added to the north side of the building. This new part had two rooms. One was the ticket agent's office, where you could buy tickets. It had a bay window that looked out onto the tracks. This office also had a telegrapher's desk for sending messages. The other room was a large, main waiting area for passengers.

The Roxbury station also got some very modern features for its time. It is thought to have had the first indoor flush toilet in Delaware County! It also had central heating. A furnace in the basement would burn coal. It sent warm air through ducts to the rooms upstairs. This was a big improvement over the old "potbelly" stoves used in most train stations.

Another new feature was a portico. This was an open, roofed area attached to the north side of the station. It was like a covered walkway. Most other Ulster & Delaware Railroad stations did not have this kind of feature.

Roxbury: A Busy Local Hub

Even though Roxbury was not the busiest station, it was important for local businesses. Several companies were located there. These included a place that sold coal, a supplier of feed and grain, and a paint factory. There were also several local creameries, which processed milk.

Passenger train service at Roxbury station stopped in 1954. However, a station agent continued to work there until 1957. After that, the building was used for other businesses. From 1959 to 1976, a feed and grain dealer used it. Freight train service also ended in 1976. Later, in the mid-1990s, a body shop owner used the building.

The station was covered with metal siding by the feed supplier. This actually helped protect the building. Because of this, the inside of the station changed very little. This makes it one of the best-preserved Ulster & Delaware Railroad stations today.

The Roxbury Depot Museum

Today, the Roxbury Station is home to a museum. It has many displays that show local history. You can learn about how the station worked with local businesses. There are also maps and diagrams that tell the story of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad. You can even see small models of the station from different time periods.

The building itself is in great condition. The metal siding helped keep it safe for many years. The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Historical Society is working to restore the station. This group also works on restoring old trains. They have restored a 1920 steam locomotive and a 1906 caboose.

See also

• Ulster and Delaware Railroad Depot and Mill Complex