The old railroad freight station dating back to 1849 in Nicholson was purchased this week by the Nicholson Heritage Association which hopes to partially renovate it for use as a visitor center/museum. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER
BY ROBERT L. BAKER
The old Delaware, Lackwanna and Western Railroad freight station in Nicholson was purchased recently as part of a plan to convert it as a visitor center and tell the story of the nearby mammothNicholsonBridge.
Nicholson Heritage Association Chairman Marion Sweet said the group received word last year that it was going to be the recipient of a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant, and that was a “huge boost” I the fundraising enterprise.
The building changed hands Wednesday, and Sweet said the association’s members are excited and full of ideas as to what it could become.
She said the station dates from 1849 when train service from Scranton via Liggett’s Gap Railroad was just getting underway, and had multiple uses beyond just freight.
By 1855, the post office was using the buidling and in 1878 it was wired for telephone service.
In 1915, when the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, or Nicholson Bridge, was being completed, a new brick and concrete train station was built, but the freight station continued to function as a freight station.
However, in 1971, the station was closed and sold in 1983 to a local business and in private use.
It is the story of Nicholson, and indeed the story of the central role of the railroad throughout Nicholson’s past that Sweet said the association wants told once the facility is refurbished.
The next step is a feasibility study, which Sweet said the Association is hopeful of getting some funding from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region to conduct
That study is expected to take up to year, Sweet said.
The group will continue to ask for funds from the community to assist in renovation of the building, which Sweet said the group would like to have open in time for the 100th anniversary in 2015 of the big bridge’s completion.
She said the public was invited to participate in the discussion about what the old station will become, and noted that the heritage association usually meets the last Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 65 State Street, Nicholson. She welcomes those interested to stop in on July 25.
For more information, Sweet suggested visiting www.nicholson station.org
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