Park Street station (Boston and Maine Railroad) explained

Park Street
Address:121 Washington Street
Medford, Massachusetts
Line:Medford branch
Closed:October 1, 1957
Nrhp:
Park Street Railroad Station
Embed:yes
Coordinates:42.4164°N -71.0986°W
Built:1894
Architect:Clarence B. Cutler
Added:April 21, 1975
Refnum:75000280
Other Services Header:Former services

Park Street station is a former railroad station in Medford, Massachusetts. Constructed by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1894, the building was abandoned in the 1930s, although passenger service continued to stop until 1957. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as Park Street Railroad Station. It is the only extant railroad station building in Medford.

History

The Medford branch was built by the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M) in 1847.[1] A station at Park Street was not added until between 1875 and 1889.[2] [3] The first station was a wooden structure with a gable roof, located on the north side of the tracks just east of Park Street.[4] [5] In the 1890s, the B&M double-tracked the branch to provide more frequent service to compete with electric streetcars. B&M vice president Samuel C. Lawrence became the first mayor of Medford in 1893, partially on promises to provide new station buildings at Park Street and Glenwood.

Construction of the new Park Street station began in mid-1893. Because land was difficult to obtain, the B&M originally considered building the station over the tracks.[6] It was designed by Clarence B. Cutler and was completed in 1894. It was unusually large and well-appointed for a branch line station due to the influence of Lawrence; he had his personal gardeners attend to the station grounds.[7] [8] The station is a one-story rectangular structure built of red brick with granite base and trim. A hip roof and porte-cochère are supported by posts with large curved brackets.[9] The station was located on the south side of the tracks slightly east of the former station; a footbridge was constructed at the station. Reports vary as to whether the original station was demolished, or was moved and reused by the city highway department.

Despite the new stations and frequent service, the branch lost most of its ridership to the streetcars and later automobiles. Service was discontinued for a period around 1933-34, and the station building remained in disuse even after service resumed.[10] The abandoned building was given to the city in 1942 to reduce the B&M tax bill.[11] Passenger service on the Medford branch, including the stop at the abandoned Park Street building, continued until on October 1, 1957.[12] [13] The tracks were abandoned west of Park Street in 1959, and east to Glenwood in 1961.[14]

The former station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as Park Street Railroad Station. It has been reused as an adult day care center.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Karr, Ronald Dale . The Rail Lines of Southern New England . 2 . Branch Line Press . 2017 . 9780942147124 . 289–296.
  2. Book: County Atlas of Middlesex, Massachusetts . 105 . 1875 . F.W. Beers & Co. . Ward Maps.
  3. Book: Atlas of Middlesex County, Massachusetts . 18, 19 . George H. Walker & Co. . 1889 . Ward Maps.
  4. Book: Roy, John H. Jr. . A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses . Branch Line Press . 2007 . 9780942147087 . 213.
  5. Medford Railroad Stations: Notes and Reminiscences . Edward B. . Dennison . 39 . 1 . March 1936 . The Medford Historical Register . Internet Archive.
  6. News: New Brick Station at Medford . Boston Globe . July 30, 1893 . 14 . Newspapers.com.
  7. Web site: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM: Park Street Railroad Station . March 1975 . Christine . Boulding . John . Herza . National Park Service.
  8. News: [{{MACRIS|MDF.88}} Petition For Abandonment of Park Street Railroad Station ]. Medford Courier . October 1, 1943 . T. M. C. . F. W. L . MACRIS inventory form.
  9. Web site: [{{MACRIS|MDF.88}} Form B - Building: Park Street Railroad Station]. Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System . Commonwealth of Massachusetts . J Herzan . B.R. Pfeiffer . September 27, 1974 .
  10. News: How would you like to live in a railroad station . Boston Globe . July 15, 1933 . 3 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: B.& M. Wants Shelters Instead of 13 Stations . Boston Globe . December 15, 1942 . 34 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: B&M Told to Up Earnings Or Face Control by Court . Boston Globe . August 3, 1957 . Newspapers.com.
  13. Web site: CITY OF MEDFORD vs. MARINUCCI BROS. & CO., INC. & another. . Middlesex County Court . Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Massachusetts Cases . 3 April 1962.
  14. Book: Karr, Ronald Dale . Lost Railroads of New England . Third . Branch Line Press . 2010 . 9780942147117 . 153.