The Erie Railroad Depot

photo credit: The Bradford Landmark Society

Plans for New Railroad Depot
The Bradford Era – Daily Developments Column
December 4 1889

The contractors of this city are figuring on the plans and specifications for a new brick depot to be built in Bradford by the Erie Railroad Company. The plans are on the file at the office of Superintendent Merrick, and the chief architect of the road is here to let the contract. The building when erected will be a credit not only to the railroad company, but to the city as well.
Erie Depot Receives New Updated Platform
The Bradford Era – Daily Developments Column
Monday, March 23, 1891
Work has been commenced on the platform around the new Erie depot, which, when completed, will greatly improve the surroundings. An effort is being made to have the lower floor ready for occupancy the latter part of the week.
Street Car Terminal Moved to Erie Depot
The Bradford Era
Saturday, September 1, 1923

Today the rooms at No. 1 Main street, for many years a landmark as the office and waiting room of the Olean, Bradford, and Salamanca, railway, will remain closed, the traction company having removed to its new quarters in the Erie Railroad station yesterday. With the removal of the company’s offices the head of Main street will no longer be the terminus of the interurban cars of the O.B.&S. except for the Lewis Run cars. The new terminus of the interurban cars, beginning today, will be in front of the Erie station.

A revised schedule is being worked out for cars over the Salamanca and Rock City divisions and will be put in force in the near future. In the meantime the same leaving times as heretofore will be observed from the new terminal.

The traction company is planning to add to the number of trips made daily by each car in order to give patrons better and faster interurban service. To this end the time required for cars to run to the head of Main Street from the Erie station will be utilized and local cars will be used for the accommodation of incoming passengers who desire to alight behind that point, transfers to be given them. The removal of the traction office and waiting room is believed to be the first step in the an ambitious plan of improvement which the O.B.&S. company has mapped out and expects to conclude if accorded the cooperation of the traveling public in greater patronage of its system of more than 100 miles of street car tracks.

Fire Guts Old Erie Railroad Passenger Depot
The Bradford Era – Monday, June 1, 1953

The old Erie Railroad passenger station on Main St. was gutted by fire Saturday afternoon, sending great masses of black smoke into the sky over Bradford. City firemen from both stations battled the blaze from 2:15 until 4 p.m., but despite the intense heat and choking smoke, there were no casualties among the firefighters. The fire apparently started in a back room on the ground floor, according to Fire Chief Edward Larkin, and followed the path of a chimney through the second floor, attic, and roof. The structure was owned by M.J. Pascarella of 76 Chestnut St., who purchased the property from the railroad on June 2, last year. The building fully covered by insurance, is included in the properties being acquired by the city for the proposed Davis St. extension. Francis M. Nash, city solicitor, said last night that while the deeds are in his possession, the deal will not be completed until the city makes payments. The cause of the fire is unknown, but the investigation is continuing.
Flames Sweep Erie RR. Depot Again
The Bradford Era –

For the second time in three months, fire swept through the more than half century old Erie Railroad depot Saturday. No estimate of the damage was given.

Just nine weeks to the day after the first fie in the frame structure, flames broke out at 7:45 o’clock as the last unit in the Zem Zem Temple shrine parade was passing up Main St. There was a sudden surge of humanity from the line of march to the nearby Erie crossing.

Fire Chief Ed Larkin said the second floor of the station was a mass of flames and seriously threatened the nest door hotel, the two-story Union House.

However, quick and efficient strategy by firemen, summoned from Central and East Bradford stations on a general alarm, snuffed out the intense blaze in less than 30 minutes.

Besides battling the fire with hose lines from all possible ground angles, a tower ladder sent a gusher of water through a hole in the roof where flames had broken through minutes before mushrooming an umbrella of smoke over a segment of parade watchers.

 

1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map

photo credit: The Bradford Landmark Society

TODAY PHOTO ~2008

photo credit: Brittany Gorrell