Simplicity VS. Sophistication – When Simplicity Wins: The Story of Historic Hartsdale Train Station
Simplicity VS. Sophistication – When Simplicity Wins: The Story of Historic Hartsdale Train Station
By: Riley Wentzler & Felicia Barber
Introduction:
In our article, All Aboard!!! The Story of The Old Putnam Railroad In Greenburgh we celebrated the history of the Old Putnam Railroad, and, in our article, The Disappearing Railroad Blues in Greenburgh: The Fate of the Putnam Railroad Line and the old Putnam Trail, we lamented its demise. While sadly the Old Putnam Railroad is gone, Greenburgh still has railroads and railroad stations to be proud of. Some of these stations in Greenburgh are truly historic. One such railroad station is the Historic Hartsdale Train Station.
Birth of a Station:
Located on 1 E. Hartsdale Avenue, Hartsdale NY, 10530 and constructed in 1914 (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 2011 p.1 and National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 2011 p. 3),the Historic Hartsdale Train Station was built by the firm of Warren & Wetmore (https://www.loc.gov/item/ny1579, https://www.theclio.com/entry/100129, https://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2013/05/22/warren-wetmore-grand-centrals-architects-on-the-harlem-line/). This firm was founded by Whitney Warren and Charles Wetmore and is one of the most prestigious architectural firms in the country having also designed: Yonkers Station on the Hudson Line in 1911 as well as White Plains Station on the Harlem Line, and Grand Central Station in 1913 (https://www.loc.gov/item/ny1579, https://www.theclio.com/entry/100129, ttps://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2013/05/22/warren-wetmore-grand-centrals-architects-on-the-harlem-line/). Originally, it was run by the Harlem Railroad (https://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2013/05/22/warren-wetmore-grand-centrals-architects-on-the-harlem-line ), but today it is run by Metro-North Railroad (https://www.theclio.com/entry/100129)
What Makes this Particular Station Historic:
While its age is impressive, its architecture is what gives it its historic significance. Warren & Wetmore usually built train stations in the Beaux-Arts architectural style (Hyatt 1898). This style is known for being ostentatious and is therefore often associated with the Old-World aristocracy or the capitalist class of the New-World. It includes the following features: balustrades, balconies, columns, cornices, pilasters, and triangular pediments (https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-beaux-arts-architecture-178195)
However, for the Hartsdale Station, they decided to break with their tradition and build it in the Tudor Revival style (https://www.loc.gov/item/ny1579, https://www.theclio.com/entry/100129, ttps://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2013/05/22/warren-wetmore-grand-centrals-architects-on-the-harlem-line/). This style is associated with the common man of England and is therefore known for its simplicity. Tudor Revival style includes the following features: 2 or more stories, tall-narrow multi-light windows in bands; over-scaled chimneys with decorative brick or stonework, overhanging second floors, a steeply pitched roof, and siding which includes stucco ( https://www.antiquehomestyle.com/styles/tudor-revival.htm).
1914 Today
As readers can see, most of these features are clearly visible in the picture above’
Since the Hartsdale Train Station, “embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction,” and “possesses high artistic value”, (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 2011 p. 4) it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 (National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 2011 p. 4).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, even though the Old Putnam Railroad is gone, Greenburgh still has railroads and railroad stations to be proud of including some truly historic examples. The Hartsdale Train Station was built in 1914, and is therefore quite old, but what makes it historic is not its age, but rather its Tudor Revival style architecture. We encourage people to visit Historic Hartsdale Train Station today.
Previous Slices of History include:
- Hastings’ Best and Brightest: Nobel Laureates of Hastings
About the Authors:
We are both Assistant Town Historians at Greenburgh Town Hall and we are engaged to be married and are currently looking for permanent employment.
Riley Wentzler:
I was born and raised in a small rural town in central Pennsylvania. In high school, I took every honors course available including four years of Spanish. I received A’s in all of them. I graduated third in my class of 146 students. This brought me to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Once there, I continued my trend of academic excellence. I graduated summa cum laude in Political Science with a minor in Spanish and a Master’s in Communication Studies, with a G.P.A of 3.94. It was also there that I met my lovely fiancée, Felicia Barber. My Master’s in Communication has promoted public speaking, teamwork, and customer service. My Political Science degree has developed my research skills using computer-based tools and provided me with experience using the Microsoft Office products. My minor in Spanish has facilitated my bilingual capabilities. During my internship at Greenburgh, I created the petition for the State Roads project using website tools. My diverse education and areas of interest have provided me with a wide range of skills. I look forward to finding a career opportunity in business or government. To suggest a topic for next week’s article, you can contact me at assistanthistorian@greenburghny.com, or to help me find employment, you can contact me at rjwentzler413@gmail.com
Felicia Barber:
I was born in New York City and raised in Hartsdale, New York. I graduated from Ardsley High School. I recently earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. It was here that I met my fiancé, Riley Wentzler. As a result of my academic excellence, I won a scholarship every year. I learned and applied many graphic design skills to projects during my summer internships and at school. I am proficient in using Adobe graphic design applications including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. For my Identity/branding course at Edinboro, I created logos to appear on the tee-shirts of Physical Education majors. For a veteran’s upcoming event, I used a typeface to focus the reader to the soldier in the poster. For the State Roads Legislative Campaign project, I created the embedded graphic-photo that accompanied the petition I am looking for a job to utilize my skills as a Graphic Designer in an agency, print shop, company or government To suggest a topic for next week’s article, you can contact me at assistanthistorian@greenburghny.com. To learn more about my artwork or to help me find employment you can contact me at feliciadbarber@gmail.com.
Two Interviews with the authors:
https://riverjournalonline.com/around-town/a-love-of-history-and-each-other/13708/
https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/news/stories-main-street-couple-cerebral-palsy-brings-manytalents-town-greenburgh
References:
Antique Home Style. (2008–2015, (NOT GIVEN) (NOT GIVEN)). Tudor Revival Style — 1890 to 1940. Retrieved from Antique Home Style: https://www.antiquehomestyle.com/styles/tudor-revival.htm
Barry, Jennifer. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: The Hartsdale Railroad Station, 5/19/2011 & 7/14/2011
Craven, J. (2019, November 11). Discover the Beauty of Beaux Arts. Retrieved from Thought Co: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-beaux-arts-architecture-178195
Historic American Buildings Survey, C. (1933) Hartsdale Railroad Station, East Hartsdale Avenue, Hartsdale, Westchester County, NY. New York Hartsdale Westchester County, 1933. Documentation Compiled After. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ny1579/.
Hyatt, Elijah, Clarence (1898). History of the New York & Harlem Railroad
Moser, E. (2013, May 22). Warren & Wetmore: Grand Central’s Architects on the Harlem Line. Retrieved from I Ride The Harlem Line: https://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2013/05/22/warren-wetmore-grand-centrals-architects-on-the-harlem-line/
Raftery, Patrick on behalf of Westchester County Historical Society. "Hartsdale Railroad Station." Clio: Your Guide to History. April 27, 2020. Accessed November 4, 2021. https://www.theclio.com/entry/100129,