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Old Colony Railroad Station (North Easton, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
The Old Colony Railroad Station, also known as the North Easton Railroad Station, is a historic railroad station designed by noted American architect H. H. Richardson
. It is located just off Oliver Street in North Easton, Massachusetts, and currently houses the Easton Historical Society, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972. In 1987 it also became part of the H.H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton
, a National Historic Landmark District.
The station was commissioned in 1881 by Frederick Lothrop Ames
, director of the Old Colony Railroad
, during the same year that Richardson designed the Ames Gate Lodge
for his nearby estate. Frederick Law Olmsted
landscaped its grounds.
In 1969, the Ames family purchased the property from the New York Central Railroad
and gave it to the historical society.
It is a relatively small station, a single story in height with Richardson's characteristic heavy masonry and outsized roof. Its long axis runs north-south with the tracks, now disused, along its west side. The building is laid out symmetrically within, with a large passenger room at each end (one for women, the other for men).
The station's facade is constructed of rough-faced, random ashlar
of gray granite with a brownstone belt course
and trim. Two large, semicircular arches punctuate each of the long facades, inset with windows and doorways, and ornamented with carvings of a beast's snarling head; a further semicircular arch projects to form the east facade's porte-cochere
. Eaves project deeply over all sides, supported by plain wooden brackets
.
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
. It is located just off Oliver Street in North Easton, Massachusetts, and currently houses the Easton Historical Society, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972. In 1987 it also became part of the H.H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton
H.H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton
H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton is a National Historic Landmark District in North Easton, Massachusetts. It consists of five buildings designed by noted 19th century architect Henry Hobson Richardson...
, a National Historic Landmark District.
The station was commissioned in 1881 by Frederick Lothrop Ames
Frederick Lothrop Ames
Frederick Lothrop Ames, Jr. was the great-grandson of Oliver Ames, who established the Ames Shovel Company. He was the second son of Frederick Lothrop Ames and Rebecca Caroline Ames. The Ames were a wealthy family in Massachusetts and were fairly prominent in 19th century New England society...
, director of the Old Colony Railroad
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
, during the same year that Richardson designed the Ames Gate Lodge
Ames Gate Lodge
The Ames Gate Lodge is a celebrated work by American architect H. H. Richardson. It is privately owned on an estate landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, but its north facade can be seen from the road at 135 Elm Street, North Easton, Massachusetts....
for his nearby estate. Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
landscaped its grounds.
In 1969, the Ames family purchased the property from the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
and gave it to the historical society.
It is a relatively small station, a single story in height with Richardson's characteristic heavy masonry and outsized roof. Its long axis runs north-south with the tracks, now disused, along its west side. The building is laid out symmetrically within, with a large passenger room at each end (one for women, the other for men).
The station's facade is constructed of rough-faced, random ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
of gray granite with a brownstone belt course
Belt course
A belt course is a continuous row or layer of stones, tile, brick, shingles, etc. in a wall. The Romanesque style of architecture is notable for the use of belt courses. Similar to a belt course is an entablature which runs along the top of a row columns instead of along a wall....
and trim. Two large, semicircular arches punctuate each of the long facades, inset with windows and doorways, and ornamented with carvings of a beast's snarling head; a further semicircular arch projects to form the east facade's porte-cochere
Porte-cochere
A porte-cochère is the architectural term for a porch- or portico-like structure at a main or secondary entrance to a building through which a horse and carriage can pass in order for the occupants to alight under cover, protected from the weather.The porte-cochère was a feature of many late 18th...
. Eaves project deeply over all sides, supported by plain wooden brackets
Bracket (architecture)
A bracket is an architectural member made of wood, stone, or metal that overhangs a wall to support or carry weight. It may also support a statue, the spring of an arch, a beam, or a shelf. Brackets are often in the form of scrolls, and can be carved, cast, or molded. They can be entirely...
.
See also
- Ames Shovel ShopAmes Shovel ShopThe Ames Shovel Shops, also known as just Ames Shovel Shop, is a historic 19th century industrial complex located in North Easton, Massachusetts. It is part of the North Easton Historic District, and consists of several granite buildings constructed between 1852 and 1885, along with several newer...
- H.H. Richardson Historic District of North EastonH.H. Richardson Historic District of North EastonH. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton is a National Historic Landmark District in North Easton, Massachusetts. It consists of five buildings designed by noted 19th century architect Henry Hobson Richardson...
- North Easton Historic DistrictNorth Easton Historic DistrictNorth Easton Historic District is a historic district located in Easton, Massachusetts along both sides of Main-Lincoln Streets.The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bristol County, Massachusetts