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Coordinates: 40°2′38″N 75°15′0″W / 40.04389°N 75.25000°W / 40.04389; -75.25000
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{{more citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox station
{{Infobox station
| name=Shawmont
| name=Shawmont
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| image=Nixon Lane Philly.JPG
| image=Nixon Lane Philly.JPG
| image_caption=The former Shawmont Reading station in 2010
| image_caption=The former Shawmont Reading station in 2010
| address=7800 Nixon Lane<br>[[Roxborough, Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| address=7700 Nixon Street<br />[[Roxborough, Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| coordinates=
| coordinates=
| line=[[Norristown Line]]<!-- the physical "line" is not the same as "services" which are detailed below -->
| line=[[Norristown Branch]]<!-- the physical "line" is not the same as "services" which are detailed below -->
| other=
| other=
| structure=
| structure=
Line 22: Line 22:
| pass_system=
| pass_system=
| opened=1834 (PG&N)
| opened=1834 (PG&N)
| closed=1991
| closed=1996
| rebuilt=
| rebuilt=
| electrified=February&nbsp;5, 1933<ref>{{cite news |title=New Electric Schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57806419/norristown-chestnut-hill-electric/ |accessdate=August 21, 2020 |work=The Scranton Times |date=February 4, 1933 |page=12|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
| electrified=February&nbsp;5, 1933<ref>{{cite news |title=New Electric Schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57806419/norristown-chestnut-hill-electric/ |accessdate=August 21, 2020 |work=The Scranton Times |date=February 4, 1933 |page=12|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
| ADA=
| accessible=
| code=
| code=
| owned=SEPTA
| owned=SEPTA
| zone=
| zone=
| former=
| former=
| other_services_collapsible = yes
| other_services_header=Former services
| other_services_header=Former services
| other_services= {{Adjacent stations|system1=SEPTA
| other_services= {{Adjacent stations|system1=SEPTA
|line1=Manayunk/Norristown|left1=Ivy Ridge|right1=Miquon
|line1=Manayunk/Norristown|left1=Miquon|right1=Ivy Ridge
|system2=Reading Company
|system2=Reading Company
|line2=Norristown Branch|left2=Glen Willow|right2=Miquon
|line2=Norristown Branch|left2=Miquon|right2=Glen Willow
}}
}}
| nrhp = {{Infobox NRHP
| nrhp = {{Infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| embed = yes
| name = Shawmont Train Station, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
| name = Shawmont Train Station, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
| partof = Upper Roxborough Historic District
| partof = Upper Roxborough Historic District
| nrhp_type = cp | nocat = yes
| nrhp_type = cp
| image =
| nocat = yes
| image =
| location=
| location =
| coordinates = {{coord|40|2|38|N|75|15|0|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|40|2|38|N|75|15|0|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Pennsylvania
| mapframe = yes
| built =
| mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail |marker-color=#{{rcr|SEPTA|Manayunk/Norristown}} |zoom=14 }}
| architect OR builder =
| built =
| architecture =
| architect OR builder =
| added = July 21, 1995
| architecture =
| area =
| added = July 21, 1995
| governing_body = Private
| area =
| partof_refnum = 01000463<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| partof_refnum = 01000463<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
}}
}}
| mpassengers=
}}
}}
'''Shawmont''' is a former train station in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. It is located on Nixon Lane in the [[Roxborough, Philadelphia|Roxborough]] section of [[Lower Northwest Philadelphia]]. Built by the [[Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad]], it later became part of the [[Reading Railroad]] and ultimately [[SEPTA Regional Rail]]'s [[Manayunk/Norristown Line|R6 Norristown Line]]. [[SEPTA]] closed the station in 1996. In 2018, $1 million was set aside for repairs and rehabilitation.
'''Shawmont''' is a former train station in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. It is located on Nixon Street in the [[Roxborough, Philadelphia|Roxborough]] section of [[Lower Northwest Philadelphia]]. Built by the [[Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad]], it later became part of the [[Reading Railroad]] and ultimately [[SEPTA Regional Rail]]'s [[Manayunk/Norristown Line|R6 Norristown Line]]. [[SEPTA]] made the station a whistle stop and closed its waiting room in 1991.<ref name="philanet.com">{{Cite web|url=http://philanet.com/Philadelphia/railroads/shawmont-station.html|title = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA) Railroads -- the Shawmont Station and the History of Roxborough / Manayunk}}</ref> [[SEPTA]] later closed the station in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiddencityphila.org/2013/12/endangered-manayunks-historic-shawmont-station/|title=Endangered: Manayunk's Historic Shawmont Station |date=11 December 2013 }}</ref> In 2018, $1 million was set aside for repairs and rehabilitation.


==History==
==History==
[[File:Shawmont station.jpg|alt=Station platform signage|thumb|The Shawmont station platform]]
The first railroad in Philadelphia opened on June 7, 1832: the [[Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad]], running from downtown to [[Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Germantown]] (now on SEPTA's Chestnut Hill East Line). Two years later, the PG&N built a line to [[Norristown, Pennsylvania|Norristown]], including the Shawmont station, which is believed to have been designed by renowned architect [[William Strickland (architect)|William Strickland]]. On December 1, 1870, the PG&N was leased by the [[Philadelphia and Reading Railway]] (later the [[Reading Company]]).
The building that became Shawmont station was constructed in 1826 as the private country residence of Nathan Nathans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shaver |first1=Davis |title=Capturing Shawmont Station before its $1,000,000 preservation begins – the oldest extant passenger rail station in America |url=https://davisshaver.com/2022/03/15/capturing-shawmont-station-before-its-1000000-preservation-begins-the-oldest-extant-passenger-rail-station-in-america-2/ |website=davisshaver.com |access-date=6 November 2022 |date=15 May 2022}}</ref> The 18′ by 36′ stone house was constructed of local schist and its design is attributed to renowned architect [[William Strickland (architect)|William Strickland]].<ref name="philanet.com"/> Nathans owned this house for only four years, as in 1830 he sold it to a local grain mill operator John Wise. The area soon entered a phase of rapid industrialization. The following year the Pennsylvania Legislature granted a charter to the [[Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad]] (PG&N). The line's southern route along the [[Schuylkill River]] came through by 1834 and in close proximity to the house. In 1835 rail service started and the house was sold to lumber businessman Henry Croskey who added it to his adjacent property. Croskey renovated the building as a passenger shelter and freight office for his lumber business and named it “Green Tree Station”. In 1857, Croskey sold Green Tree Station and its grounds to the Railroad.<ref name=Breard>{{cite web |last1=Breard |first1=William Louis |title=Shawmont Station Addendum (1826-2014) July 2014 |url=http://www.preservationalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014_SHAWMONT_ADDENDUM.pdf |website=preservationalliance.com |publisher=Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref>


On December 1, 1870, the PG&N was leased by the [[Philadelphia and Reading Railway]] (later the [[Reading Company]]). The station then underwent extensive renovations. A bay window replaced the center doorway and the first floor altered to accommodate a telegraph operator and ticket window. A waiting room was created by removing the windows toward the platform and converted them into doorways. A rear addition provided housing for a resident Station Master. In 1873 the competing [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] had built a station in nearby [[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]], which was also named “Green Tree”. The Reading then changed Green Tree Station in Philadelphia County to Shawmont Station, for local resident and inventor Thomas Shaw.<ref name=Breard />
By 1884, the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] had joined the competition with the [[Schuylkill Branch]], a line that ran parallel to the Norristown line with a Shawmont station of its own. The Pennsylvania electrified its line in 1930, the Reading the following year.


By 1884, the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] had joined the competition with the [[Schuylkill Branch]], a line that ran parallel to the Norristown line with a Shawmont station of its own.
[[File:Shawmont station.jpg|Station platform signage|thumb|left|220px]]
Railroad service declined after World War II, and the Pennsylvania Railroad closed its Shawmont station on October&nbsp;30, 1960,<ref>{{cite news |title=PRR to Stop Service at Norristown Oct. 31 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23930356/prr-norristown-canning-october-18-1960/ |accessdate=October 9, 2020 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=October 18, 1960 |page=35|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> terminating all passenger service north of [[Manayunk (PRR station)|Manayunk]]. The [[Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority]] began arranging new contracts with the PRR and RDG to continue commuter rail services in the Philadelphia region in 1966. In 1968, the Pennsylvania merged with their much larger rival, the [[New York Central Railroad]] to form the [[Penn Central Transportation Company|Penn Central Railroad]]. Penn Central filed for bankruptcy on June 21, 1970, which, adjusted for today’s dollars, is still the largest bankruptcy filing in US history. In 1971, the Reading filed for bankruptcy. In 1976, the Reading and Penn Central were acquired by [[Conrail]], which provided commuter rail services under contract to SEPTA until January 1, 1983, when SEPTA assumed operations. Two years before this took place, SEPTA ended diesel service to Reading and Pottsville.


In 1909, the Brendel family took up residence in Shawmont station to become permanent stationmasters.<ref name="philanet.com"/>
Shawmont station became a contributing property of the [[Upper Roxborough Historic District]] in 1995,{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} but was closed by SEPTA in 1991.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-10-25/news/25663717_1_septa-board-bus-routes-louis-gambaccini | title=Septa Board Cuts Service But Opposition Is Spirited | work=[[Philadelphia Daily News]] | date=October 25, 1996 | accessdate=August 14, 2016 | author=Dougherty, Frank}}</ref>


The Pennsylvania Railroad electrified its line in 1930, and the Reading Company followed suit a year later.
In 2009, the building was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, preserving it from potential destruction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://philly.curbed.com/2018/1/29/16944484/shawmont-train-station-manayunk-restoration-dvrpc|title=Historic Shawmont Train Station to be restored with $1M boost|work=Curbed Philly|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref>


Railroad service declined after [[World War II]], and the Pennsylvania Railroad closed its Shawmont station on October&nbsp;30, 1960,<ref>{{cite news |title=PRR to Stop Service at Norristown Oct. 31 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23930356/prr-norristown-canning-october-18-1960/ |accessdate=October 9, 2020 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=October 18, 1960 |page=35|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> terminating all passenger service north of [[Manayunk (PRR station)|Manayunk]]. [[SEPTA]] began arranging new contracts with the PRR and RDG to continue commuter rail services in the Philadelphia region in 1966. In 1968, the Pennsylvania merged with their much larger rival, the [[New York Central Railroad]] to form the [[Penn Central Transportation Company|Penn Central Railroad]]. Penn Central filed for bankruptcy on June 21, 1970. In 1971, the Reading filed for bankruptcy as well. In 1976, the Reading and Penn Central were both acquired by [[Conrail]], which provided commuter rail services under contract to SEPTA until January 1, 1983, when SEPTA assumed operations. SEPTA had already ended diesel service to [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] and [[Pottsville, Pennsylvania|Pottsville]] in 1981.<ref name="philanet.com"/>
In 2018, the [[Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission]] gave $1 million to rehabilitate the former station.<ref name=":0" />

Shawmont station became a contributing property of the [[Upper Roxborough Historic District]] in 1995,{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} but was closed by SEPTA in 1996.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-10-25/news/25663717_1_septa-board-bus-routes-louis-gambaccini | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018195548/http://articles.philly.com/1996-10-25/news/25663717_1_septa-board-bus-routes-louis-gambaccini | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 18, 2015 | title=Septa Board Cuts Service But Opposition Is Spirited | work=[[Philadelphia Daily News]] | date=October 25, 1996 | accessdate=August 14, 2016 | author=Dougherty, Frank}}</ref> The last of the Brendel's descendants moved out of the station in 2013 after occupying the property for 104 years.<ref name="philanet.com"/>

In 2009, the building was added to the [[Philadelphia Register of Historic Places]], preserving it from potential destruction.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://philly.curbed.com/2018/1/29/16944484/shawmont-train-station-manayunk-restoration-dvrpc|title=Historic Shawmont Train Station to be restored with $1M boost|work=Curbed Philly|access-date=2018-01-30}}</ref> In 2018, the [[Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission]] gave $1 million to rehabilitate the former station.<ref name=":0" /> Structural repair work finally began in February 2023.<ref name=CAWLEY>{{cite news
| last = Cawley
| first = Rick
| date = 17 February 2023
| title = SEPTA begins work on Shawmont Station restoration
| url = https://www.timesherald.com/2023/02/17/septa-begins-work-on-shawmont-station-restoration/
| url-status =
| work = The Times Herald
| location = Norristown, Pennsylvania
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230217173149/https://www.timesherald.com/2023/02/17/septa-begins-work-on-shawmont-station-restoration/
| archive-date = 17 February 2023
| access-date = 16 June 2023
}}</ref> As of August, the exterior work was nearing completion, with the façade restored to its 1870 appearance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bagenstose |first1=Kyle |title=Restoration of Historic Shawmont Station in Roxborough Nearing Completion |url=https://hiddencityphila.org/2023/08/restoration-of-shawmont-station-in-roxborough-nearing-completion/ |publisher=Hidden City Philadelphia CultureTrust |access-date=17 February 2024 |date=29 August 2023}}</ref> When completed, SEPTA will seek a tenant for the building.<ref name=CAWLEY /> There are no plans to reactivate it as a train stop.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burkhart |first1=M. T. |title=SEPTA Looks to Restore Oldest Surviving Passenger Station |url=https://railfan.com/septa-looks-to-restore-oldest-surviving-passenger-station/ |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |publisher=White River Productions |access-date=17 June 2023 |date=16 December 2021}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://membrane.com/philanet/Philadelphia/railroads/Shawmont_Train_Station.html Shawmont Station (Philadelphia's Story by John Johnstone)]
*[http://membrane.com/philanet/Philadelphia/railroads/Shawmont_Train_Station.html Shawmont Station (Philadelphia's Story by John Johnstone)]
*[https://i2.wp.com/images.phillypublishing.com/davisshaver/uploads/2018/04/Shawmont-Station-1929.jpg?ssl=1 Shawmont station in 1929]
{{SEPTA Regional Rail stations}}


[[Category:Former SEPTA Regional Rail stations]]
[[Category:Former SEPTA Regional Rail stations]]
[[Category:Former Reading Company stations]]
[[Category:Former Reading Company stations]]
[[Category:Former railway stations in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Former railway stations in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1834]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1834]]
[[Category:Railway stations closed in 1996]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1996]]
[[Category:1834 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1834 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1996 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1996 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]

Latest revision as of 20:27, 31 October 2024

Shawmont
Former train station
The former Shawmont Reading station in 2010
General information
Location7700 Nixon Street
Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Owned bySEPTA
Line(s)Norristown Branch
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks2
Construction
Platform levels1
History
Opened1834 (PG&N)
Closed1996
ElectrifiedFebruary 5, 1933[1]
Former services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
Miquon Manayunk/​Norristown Line Ivy Ridge
Preceding station Reading Railroad Following station
Miquon
toward Elm Street
Norristown Branch Glen Willow
Shawmont Train Station, Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
Map
Coordinates40°2′38″N 75°15′0″W / 40.04389°N 75.25000°W / 40.04389; -75.25000
Part ofUpper Roxborough Historic District (ID01000463[2])
Added to NRHPJuly 21, 1995

Shawmont is a former train station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located on Nixon Street in the Roxborough section of Lower Northwest Philadelphia. Built by the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad, it later became part of the Reading Railroad and ultimately SEPTA Regional Rail's R6 Norristown Line. SEPTA made the station a whistle stop and closed its waiting room in 1991.[3] SEPTA later closed the station in 1996.[4] In 2018, $1 million was set aside for repairs and rehabilitation.

History

[edit]
Station platform signage
The Shawmont station platform

The building that became Shawmont station was constructed in 1826 as the private country residence of Nathan Nathans.[5] The 18′ by 36′ stone house was constructed of local schist and its design is attributed to renowned architect William Strickland.[3] Nathans owned this house for only four years, as in 1830 he sold it to a local grain mill operator John Wise. The area soon entered a phase of rapid industrialization. The following year the Pennsylvania Legislature granted a charter to the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad (PG&N). The line's southern route along the Schuylkill River came through by 1834 and in close proximity to the house. In 1835 rail service started and the house was sold to lumber businessman Henry Croskey who added it to his adjacent property. Croskey renovated the building as a passenger shelter and freight office for his lumber business and named it “Green Tree Station”. In 1857, Croskey sold Green Tree Station and its grounds to the Railroad.[6]

On December 1, 1870, the PG&N was leased by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway (later the Reading Company). The station then underwent extensive renovations. A bay window replaced the center doorway and the first floor altered to accommodate a telegraph operator and ticket window. A waiting room was created by removing the windows toward the platform and converted them into doorways. A rear addition provided housing for a resident Station Master. In 1873 the competing Pennsylvania Railroad had built a station in nearby Chester County, which was also named “Green Tree”. The Reading then changed Green Tree Station in Philadelphia County to Shawmont Station, for local resident and inventor Thomas Shaw.[6]

By 1884, the Pennsylvania Railroad had joined the competition with the Schuylkill Branch, a line that ran parallel to the Norristown line with a Shawmont station of its own.

In 1909, the Brendel family took up residence in Shawmont station to become permanent stationmasters.[3]

The Pennsylvania Railroad electrified its line in 1930, and the Reading Company followed suit a year later.

Railroad service declined after World War II, and the Pennsylvania Railroad closed its Shawmont station on October 30, 1960,[7] terminating all passenger service north of Manayunk. SEPTA began arranging new contracts with the PRR and RDG to continue commuter rail services in the Philadelphia region in 1966. In 1968, the Pennsylvania merged with their much larger rival, the New York Central Railroad to form the Penn Central Railroad. Penn Central filed for bankruptcy on June 21, 1970. In 1971, the Reading filed for bankruptcy as well. In 1976, the Reading and Penn Central were both acquired by Conrail, which provided commuter rail services under contract to SEPTA until January 1, 1983, when SEPTA assumed operations. SEPTA had already ended diesel service to Reading and Pottsville in 1981.[3]

Shawmont station became a contributing property of the Upper Roxborough Historic District in 1995,[citation needed] but was closed by SEPTA in 1996.[8] The last of the Brendel's descendants moved out of the station in 2013 after occupying the property for 104 years.[3]

In 2009, the building was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, preserving it from potential destruction.[9] In 2018, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission gave $1 million to rehabilitate the former station.[9] Structural repair work finally began in February 2023.[10] As of August, the exterior work was nearing completion, with the façade restored to its 1870 appearance.[11] When completed, SEPTA will seek a tenant for the building.[10] There are no plans to reactivate it as a train stop.[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Electric Schedule". The Scranton Times. February 4, 1933. p. 12. Retrieved August 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA) Railroads -- the Shawmont Station and the History of Roxborough / Manayunk".
  4. ^ "Endangered: Manayunk's Historic Shawmont Station". December 11, 2013.
  5. ^ Shaver, Davis (May 15, 2022). "Capturing Shawmont Station before its $1,000,000 preservation begins – the oldest extant passenger rail station in America". davisshaver.com. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Breard, William Louis. "Shawmont Station Addendum (1826-2014) July 2014" (PDF). preservationalliance.com. Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "PRR to Stop Service at Norristown Oct. 31". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 18, 1960. p. 35. Retrieved October 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Dougherty, Frank (October 25, 1996). "Septa Board Cuts Service But Opposition Is Spirited". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Historic Shawmont Train Station to be restored with $1M boost". Curbed Philly. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Cawley, Rick (February 17, 2023). "SEPTA begins work on Shawmont Station restoration". The Times Herald. Norristown, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Bagenstose, Kyle (August 29, 2023). "Restoration of Historic Shawmont Station in Roxborough Nearing Completion". Hidden City Philadelphia CultureTrust. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Burkhart, M. T. (December 16, 2021). "SEPTA Looks to Restore Oldest Surviving Passenger Station". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. White River Productions. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
[edit]