Cumberland Valley Railroad

Now occupied as a museum.

(located below the National Register of Historic Places plaque)
1867
In 1867, the Cumberland Valley Railroad completed this station, Mechanicsburg's first and only. Previously, passengers boarded at the Railroad Hotel, located near where the east end of the Strawberry Alley municipal parking lot is now. It served CVRR passengers until 1919, when the Pennsylvania Railroad bought out the CVRR, and then served PRR passengers until service ended in 1952.

In 1975, the Borough of Mechanicsburg purchased the railroad properties from the Penn Central Railroad. It was in sad condition. The station was renovated by the borough as office and council chamber spaces, which served until 2003. In 2005 it was purchased by the Mechanicsburg Museum Association. It now serves as main office, display space, and event space for the association.

(located below the National Register of Historic Places plaque)
1866

In 1866, the Cumberland Valley Railroad built this home as home and office for the Mechanicsburg Stationmaster. The stationmaster was in charge of passenger and freight operations in Mechanicsburg. The first residents were stationmaster and telegrapher George Zacharias and his family. Built of solid brick, and having a number of quality features inside, it was quite nice for a middle class home of the times.

Between 1885 and 1890, the home became the office of Adams Express, which in 1917 sold its express business to Railway Express Agency (REA). Later, it was used by the railroad for baggage and storage, and by the 1970s, it was an abandoned eyesore. In 1975, the Borough of Mechanicsburg purchased the railroad properties from the Penn Central Railroad. The Mechanicsburg Museum Association was formed to restore and furnish the home, and it became the first part of the Mechanicsburg Museum. It is now owned by the association, and shown on docent led tours.