Restoration Project:
Lehigh
& Hudson River Railway Freight House
Above:
As it appeared in 1918 (Photo
Collection of NJMRHS)
Above: As it appeared in 2001 (Collection of NJMRHS)
Above: Two views of the restoration progress in December, 2004 (Collection of NJMRHS)
Above: Three views of the restoration progress in November, 2005 (Collection of NJMRHS)
Above: Two views of the restoration progress in April, 2009 (Collection of NJMRHS)
The New Jersey Midland Railroad Historical
Society is working with the Allamuchy Township Environmental Committee to
stabilize and restore the former Lehigh & Hudson River Railway freight
house. While there are several passenger stations still in existence along the
route of the L&HR, this is the only freight house still in existence.
The Lehigh & Hudson River Railway was
opened to traffic through Allamuchy in 1882. The passenger station was built in
1885. The Lehigh & Hudson River's Annual Report for 1906 states that
"a new freight station was built at
Perhaps the most notable moment for the
Freight House came when President Franklin D. Roosevelt's private train stopped
here in 1944 while the President "visited" with Lucy Rutherford.
The Lehigh & Hudson River freight house is an
Official Project of Save America's Treasures, a public-private partnership
between the White House Millennium Council and the Nationl Trust for Historic
Preservation dedicated to the preservation of our nation's irreplaceable
historic and cultural treasures for future generations.
The L&HR Allamuchy Freight House is now
listed on the National Historic Register.
We are in the process of reviewing freight records
for this station from several sources including the Railroad Museum of
Pennsylvania. It is our hope to be able to document the types of goods shipped
to and from this freight house over the life of the L&HR Railway. We
envision providing outdoor display panels to explain the overall history of the
L&HR Railway and what activity actually took place at this freight house.
Your support of this project is requested.
Approximately 85% of the needed funding is in place. We request your donations
of materials, money and artifacts. All donations are tax-deductable. Please
contact the Society for further
information how you can assist in the preservation of this unique piece of
Allamuchy and Warren County History.
Above:
The Passenger Station as it
appeared in 1918. Future plans call for recreation of this building. (Photo
Collection of NJMRHS)