Tamaqua station

Tamaqua
Former Reading Railroad station
Tamaqua station in July 2010
General information
Location18 N. Railroad St.,
Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates40°47′53″N 75°58′12″W / 40.7980°N 75.9701°W / 40.7980; -75.9701
Construction
Architectural styleItalianate
History
Opened1874
Closed1961
Rebuilt1880, 1885
Former services
Preceding station Reading Railroad Following station
Newkirk
toward Pottsville
 Schuylkill Valley Branch Terminus
Reading Railroad Passenger Station—Tamaqua
NRHP reference No.85003164[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 26, 1985

The Tamaqua station is a disused railway station that is located in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Tamaqua Historic District.[1]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 26, 1985, as the Reading Railroad Passenger Station-Tamaqua.

History and architectural features

19th century

This station was originally built by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in 1874, which had earlier acquired the Little Schuylkill Navigation, Railroad and Coal Company.[2] It is a one-story brick building that was designed in the Italianate style.

In 1880, an addition was made to the original 1874, giving it a T-plan. In 1885, a freight house was added.[3]

20th century

The station ceased train operations in 1961 and was formally abandoned in 1981.[4]

In 1984, a local family offered to purchase the railroad station and proposed that the building would be turned into a museum, similar to Steamtown, U.S.A. in Scranton.[5]

On December 26, 1985, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Reading Railroad Passenger Station--Tamaqua.

21st century

Following a $1.5 million restoration, the building was reopened in 2004 as a heritage center.[6]

In 2023, the station was featured on a USPS Forever stamp in a 5-stamp "Railroad Stations" series. The stamp illustrations were made by Down the Street Designs, and Derry Noyes served as the art director.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ Tamaqua Railroad Station - Historical Chronology[dead link‍]
  3. ^ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania". CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2005-09-14. Retrieved 2012-06-03. Note: This includes Michael Havrischak (August 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Reading Railroad: Passenger Station (Tamaqua)" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  4. ^ Adams, Charles J. (2004). Coal Country Ghosts, Legends and Lore. Exeter House Books. ISBN 1-880683-20-2.
  5. ^ "RAIL STATION MAY BECOME A MUSEUM". Philadelphia Inquirer. October 11, 1984. p. B25 Local. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  6. ^ "History". Tamaqua Railroad Station. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  7. ^ "U.S. Postal Service Reveals Stamps for 2023". United States Postal Service. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.