|
The
first depot was erected in 1867, built through the contributions of the
farmers who lived here: it stood on the southeast corner of Wellwood and
Hoffman Avenues. The
founders of Breslau later built a larger depot north of the first one,
which was moved to School Street. It
became a school, then a firehouse, and lastly a private residence in
which it still is today.
The
second depot was a two-story building with the depot master living
upstairs and the post office downstairs.
The third depot, the building now located on the site in Irmisch
Park, was first used March 25, 1901.
The South Side Signal, then our local paper, reported the depot
“is a pretty little structure with low, broad eaves and a cone-shaped
pagoda like roof, altogether superior in appearance to the old building.
Lindenhurst will have the prettiest depot building between
Massapequa and Oakdale, barring none.
Some are bigger but there are none as pretty from an
architectural standpoint”.
Lindenhurst
grew by leaps and bounds and their freight business was dwindling.
The Lindenhurst train line became a commuter line and the track
was then elevated. Eventually
there was no more use for the depot.
At that time the Lindenhurst Historical Society began to show
great interest in the depot and its members talked about
restoration-moving it to a new site-making it into a museum.
On October 25, 1968 The Metropolitan Transit Authority
turned over the keys of the old depot to the President of the Historical
Society when temporary tracks were laid for regular railroad use.
The
depot restoration committee, under the leadership of Luis Liebal Jr.,
arranged with village officials to have the Depot moved to Irmisch
Historical Park. This took
place in November. Since
the building was now on Village-owned property, the Historical Society
turned over ownership to the Village of Lindenhurst, but agreed to
direct and be responsible for the buildings restoration.
The freight house was detached from the Depot and laid on its own
foundation. The interior of
the freight house is now an exhibit, which depicts shipments that
formerly arrived by rail for the citizens of Lindenhurst.
Uniforms worn by employees of the railroad, many of whom lived in
Lindenhurst, are also on display. Fine
collections of pictures of railroad scenes are displayed.
The story of “Mile-a-Minute” Murphy is depicted and he
freight house has many more artifacts connecting with railroading.
The
Depot is a restoration: it took a miracle to work to bring back the
effect of the building, which was new in 1901.
Come and see the old tick agent’s office, the black cast iron
stove, which provided the only heat, and the oaken telephone!
|

Photo from "Long Island To-day" by
Frederick Ruther, 1909
|
|
|