A 237-foot-long Richardsonian Romanesque station built for the New York, Ontario and Western Railway, now vacant and facing an uncertain future.
At a glance
The O&W Station is a three-story pressed brick and sandstone building in Middletown, Orange County, New York. It measures approximately 237 feet (72 m) long and has towers at each end. Bradford Lee Gilbert designed the original 1892-1893 structure.
History
The New York, Ontario and Western Railway built the station in 1892-1893. Additions and alterations came in 1904 and 1920, designed by Middletown architect David H. Canfield. A two-story records storage building was added to the property in 1915.
The station closed on September 10, 1953, when O&W passenger service ended. It sat unused for decades. The city owned it by 2011, then sold it for $1 to the Middletown Community Health Center (MCHC).
MCHC planned to redevelop the building for its own uses. The estimated cost was $20 million. Financial problems prevented the project from moving forward, despite some state grants. Another health care organization bought out MCHC, and in 2017 negotiations began to return the station to the city. Demolition is likely.
What you see
The station is a long, three-story volume in Richardsonian Romanesque style. Pressed brick and sandstone form the exterior. Towers rise at the north and south ends. The 1904 and 1920 alterations altered the original fabric. A separate two-story records storage building from 1915 also stands on the property.
Cultural significance
The station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. The listing recognizes its architecture and its role in the railway history of Orange County.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Middletown
- Coordinates: 41.4522, -74.4153
- National Register of Historic Places: 2014
Practical information & getting there
The station is located in Middletown, Orange County, New York. It is not open to the public. Check with the City of Middletown for any access or redevelopment updates.
Sources & resources
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