Piermont Station

Piermont Station. and the Northern Railroad. Completed in 1859, the Northern connected Jersey City to Upper Piermont (today's Sparkill) and then to Piermont. By 1860, it branched west to Monsey. On May 21, 1870, along this route, known today as the Erie Path, the line was extended north from Sparkill to Nyack for a total of 28 miles from Jersey City. Newspaper evidence indicates that, as early as 1873, trains made a whistle stop at this site (then called Piermont-on-the-Hill). "Passengers must wait, in sunshine or shower, without shelter, at the stopping place." It wasn't until 1883 that this station was built. It sits on the side of the Palisades, more than 120 feet above lower Piermont. Commuters needed to be in fine physical condition to tackle the climb., From 1868 onwards, the Northern changed names multiple times finally becoming the Erie-Lackawanna. During the 1920s more than 40 trains a day stopped here. With the opening of the Tappan Zee bridge in 1955 the importance of the railroad declined and traffic was reduced to 6 trains a day. It ceased operations in 1966 after 107 years of successful service that dramatically changed the economy of the area. The last train passed this station on December 14, 1965. By that time, it was affectionately known as "THE WEARY ERIE"., The Inhabitants , The Station was staffed for 32 years by its most famous stationmaster, Marion Belle Byram-Kelly, who was ticket agent and telegrapher. In the same way that many meet via the Internet, Belle fell in love via the telegraph with Tom Kelly, the Nyack stationmaster and telegrapher. Married in 1913, Tom died six years later, leaving her a single mother. Belle was on call 24 hours a day since Western Union, before radio, was the major source for all news dispatches, baseball scores, election results, etc. In 1969, three years after the railroad ceased operations, Belle and her son, made the station their home until her death in 1976 and his in 1996. It was because they kept the station intact, disturbing little and preserving much, that the Piermont Historical Society was able to restore this station., The Restoration , In 2004, the Village of Piermont acquired this station from NY State, which had taken possession of the property. The Piermont Railroad Restoration Committee (renamed the Piermont Historical Society) and the Village Board of Trustees raised funds and by 2006 the exterior and interior of the structure was restored. In 2007, the Society received the Merit Award for restoration from the Historical Society of Rockland County and in 2008 the station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, due to a lack of funds, it would take another ten years before the station foundation was rebuilt. The Society was able to complete the work in 2017 thanks to the combined efforts of the Village Trustees, a State grant and support of Piermont residents. The station, now preserved for generations to come, is the last structural reminder of Piermont's significant railroad history. It may be the only wood-framed station of its kind., In 2014, it became the museum of the history of Piermont. Most importantly, thanks to the preservation efforts of Belle and her son, Tom Jr., today we can step back in time and experience the look and feel of a 19th century station., All Aboard!.