Scranton, train station in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton station is a former railway station with Romanesque architecture located on West Lackawanna Avenue, serving as a major stop for the Central Railroad of New Jersey in the early 1900s. The building features thick brick walls with rounded arches, a freight section with a turret and slate roof, and originally housed an ornate passenger area with castle-inspired design elements.
The station was built in the early 1890s as a major junction for the Central Railroad of New Jersey, connecting Scranton to Jersey City, Philadelphia, and Allentown. A devastating fire in 1910 destroyed the ornate passenger building and its signature tower, which was replaced by a simpler wooden structure that continued operations until the early 1950s.
The station reflects Scranton's identity as a railroad hub where trains connected the city to the wider world. The building's strong brick presence and tower design reminded residents of the railway's importance to their daily lives and economic prosperity.
The station sits on West Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton and is easy to reach on foot, with shops and other historic sites nearby. The location works well as a starting point for exploring the city, and visitors can walk to the nearby Steamtown National Historic Site to learn more about the region's railroad history.
After closing to trains in the early 1950s, the building was used by a fruit company that ripened bananas by hanging them upside down in dark rooms. This unusual chapter shows how historic structures find new purposes when their original functions end.
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