Wakefield Centre station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Center Depot
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Center Depot on Water Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 57 Water Street, Wakefield, Massachusetts |
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| MPS | Wakefield MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000693 |
| Added to NRHP | July 6, 1989 |
The Wakefield Centre station is an old train station located at 57 Water Street in Wakefield, Massachusetts. It was built in the early 1870s. This building is a cool reminder of how important railroads were for Wakefield to grow into a busy industrial town in the late 1800s. In 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Centre Depot. Today, this historic building is used as a restaurant.
What the Station Looks Like
The old station building is on the south side of Water Street. It sits west of an old railroad track area that is no longer used. The building is made of wood and has one story. It has a rectangular shape.
The roof is a special type called a hip roof. It has wide edges that stick out. These edges are held up by large, strong supports. These supports are placed on decorated pillars along the walls. On the side facing the tracks, there is a bay window that sticks out. This window was likely used by the person who sold tickets or sent telegraph messages.
A Brief History of the Station
The railroad tracks were first built through Wakefield around 1850. This was a big deal for the town. It quickly helped the local economy grow a lot. One train line went north towards Salem. The station at this spot was probably built around that time, along this line.
Later, another train line was built towards Haverhill. This line is now part of the MBTA Commuter Rail's Haverhill Line. The Salem line was very important for two big companies in Wakefield. These were the Wakefield Rattan Company and the L. B. Evans Shoe Company. The current station building first appeared on town maps in 1874. This means it was likely built sometime between 1870 and 1874.
