{ "slug": "new-london-union-station", "title": "Union Station: A Railroad Gateway Saved in the 1970s", "towns": [ "New London" ], "counties": [ "New London" ], "dateRange": "1885–1975", "topic": "Railroads and preservation", "summary": "Exterior and interior photographs from 1971 and 1975 trace the architecture of New London’s Richardson-designed station during its preservation years.", "history": [ { "heading": "A new station after the fire", "text": "A fire destroyed New London’s earlier depot in 1885. The replacement was planned for the New Haven Railroad and the New London Northern, later associated with the Central Vermont system. Henry Hobson Richardson designed the new station, and his successors Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge completed the work after his death. It opened in 1887. Its location beside the tracks and harbor made it a gateway between the city and a transportation network extending beyond southeastern Connecticut. The building gave a permanent architectural presence to journeys, arrivals, and connections.", "source_ids": [ "station-amtrak" ] }, { "heading": "Architecture made for passengers", "text": "The Historic American Buildings Survey records a red-brick building with a prominent hipped roof and a projecting upper story. Inside, the waiting room rises through the main volume beneath substantial roof framing. Photographs include the public interior, ticket counter, attic trusses, and the platform side. These views make the station legible as a working building: passengers needed a place to wait, buy tickets, orient themselves, and pass toward the trains. The large room and its surrounding service spaces organized those activities while the roof and masonry gave the small urban station a distinctive silhouette.", "source_ids": [ "ct0346-report", "ct0346-photos" ] }, { "heading": "The campaign to keep it standing", "text": "Declining passenger business after the Second World War placed many older railroad buildings under pressure. The New Haven Railroad entered Penn Central in 1969, and Union Station faced a demolition threat. National Register listing followed in 1971. A preservation trust formed in 1973, and Union Station Associates, led by architect George Notter, purchased the building in 1975. Restoration retained a railroad use. This sequence matters because the station’s survival resulted from specific organizational and ownership decisions during the years represented in the photographic record.", "source_ids": [ "station-amtrak", "station-register" ] }, { "heading": "Two photographic visits", "text": "The survey’s photograph index distinguishes Robert E. Fulton III’s 1971 images from Jack E. Boucher’s April 1975 work. Together they provide a close view of the building during the period when its future was being decided. Exterior photographs place the brick walls, roof, and trackside elevations in their urban setting; interior views preserve fittings and structural details that a distant postcard would miss. The photographs can be compared as architectural evidence without assuming that every visible feature survived later restoration. Each image retains its own date and original archival caption.", "source_ids": [ "ct0346-photos", "ct0346" ] } ], "timeline": [ { "date": "1885", "event": "A fire destroys the previous depot.", "source_ids": [ "station-amtrak" ] }, { "date": "1887", "event": "The Richardson-designed replacement opens.", "source_ids": [ "station-amtrak" ] }, { "date": "1971", "event": "Union Station enters the National Register; Fulton photographs the building.", "source_ids": [ "station-register", "ct0346-photos" ] }, { "date": "1973", "event": "A trust forms to support preservation.", "source_ids": [ "station-amtrak" ] }, { "date": "1975", "event": "Union Station Associates purchases the property; Boucher photographs it in April.", "source_ids": [ "station-amtrak", "ct0346-photos" ] } ], "sources": [ { "id": "ct0346", "title": "New London Union Station — Library of Congress survey record", "url": "https://www.loc.gov/item/ct0346/" }, { "id": "ct0346-report", "title": "New London Union Station — historical and descriptive report", "url": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/data/ct0346data.pdf" }, { "id": "ct0346-photos", "title": "New London Union Station — photograph index and photographer credits", "url": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/data/ct0346cap.pdf" }, { "id": "station-amtrak", "title": "Amtrak: New London Union Station history", "url": "https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/new-london-ct-nlc/" }, { "id": "station-register", "title": "National Park Service: Union Railroad Station registration", "url": "https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/71000913" } ], "images": [ { "id": "nl-ct0346-1", "image": "/county-images/abe155e8ad3140c5b4e4bee9d9e2420f742f7c1eae36f8f958288425100ad340.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024721pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024721pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024721p", "originalCaption": "1. EXTERIOR, WEST ELEVATION - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 814, "title": "Exterior, west elevation", "alt": "Exterior, west elevation — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "1971", "creator": "Robert E. Fulton III", "credit": "Robert E. Fulton III; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-2", "image": "/county-images/e9ad2e8b998bd081395e51c719b116f653c4ea8ba41f0315096d59dd9f218957.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024722pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024722pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024722p", "originalCaption": "2. EXTERIOR, SOUTH AND EAST ELEVATION - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 814, "title": "Exterior, south and east elevation", "alt": "Exterior, south and east elevation — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "1971", "creator": "Robert E. Fulton III", "credit": "Robert E. Fulton III; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-5", "image": "/county-images/801de64badab6346b56c5df7fb9ea43e0faa4c2c8dab87e9d1e46adfe739e67f.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024725pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024725pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024725p", "originalCaption": "5. DETAIL OF CHIMNEY IN ATTIC - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 823, "height": 1024, "title": "Detail of chimney in attic", "alt": "Detail of chimney in attic — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "1971", "creator": "Robert E. Fulton III", "credit": "Robert E. Fulton III; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-6", "image": "/county-images/33b55efca799ab4ef5b2949972e9539b35d235b7d24fc6d7ad17ee9bbd1f0888.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024726pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024726pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024726p", "originalCaption": "6. DETAIL OF ATTIC TRUSS - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 806, "title": "Detail of attic truss", "alt": "Detail of attic truss — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "1971", "creator": "Robert E. Fulton III", "credit": "Robert E. Fulton III; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-7", "image": "/county-images/50761e963488e3051d784097298cd9fafd0687f99f5a887d41300bc9fde433ed.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024727pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024727pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024727p", "originalCaption": "7. INTERIOR, WAITING ROOM - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 796, "title": "Interior, waiting room", "alt": "Interior, waiting room — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "1971", "creator": "Robert E. Fulton III", "credit": "Robert E. Fulton III; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-9", "image": "/county-images/3c3ef53437f22785dac998fba2fec31febcedfac0bda6e266298fb6976a7bfad.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024729pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024729pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024729p", "originalCaption": "9. GENERAL VIEW OF WEST FACADE (LEFT) AND SOUTH TRACK-SIDE FACADE (RIGHT) - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 742, "title": "General view of west facade (left) and south track-side facade (right)", "alt": "General view of west facade (left) and south track-side facade (right) — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "April 1975", "creator": "Jack E. Boucher", "credit": "Jack E. Boucher; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-10", "image": "/county-images/51833845c86fa63fd4d2bbf34790c973c9494b197c802f8736538439edb7366e.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024730pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024730pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024730p", "originalCaption": "10. DETAIL OF DORMER IN EAST END OF ROOF, SOUTH FACADE - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 728, "title": "Detail of dormer in east end of roof, south facade", "alt": "Detail of dormer in east end of roof, south facade — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "April 1975", "creator": "Jack E. Boucher", "credit": "Jack E. Boucher; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-11", "image": "/county-images/738c9c2fe5602a75d90d546bee1bb0f492591c872673ee03afe4aa62d4ba4933.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024731pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024731pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024731p", "originalCaption": "11. SOUTH ELEVATION WITH PASSENGER SHED IN FOREGROUND - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 728, "title": "South elevation with passenger shed in foreground", "alt": "South elevation with passenger shed in foreground — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "April 1975", "creator": "Jack E. Boucher", "credit": "Jack E. Boucher; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-13", "image": "/county-images/e67c2bacbe8f820add57452b5fb3199e02c7e86a7312cee4031314b8da2d9f5c.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024733pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024733pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024733p", "originalCaption": "13. OBLIQUE VIEW OF PASSENGER ENTRANCE IN NORTH FACADE - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 736, "height": 1024, "title": "Oblique view of passenger entrance in north facade", "alt": "Oblique view of passenger entrance in north facade — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "April 1975", "creator": "Jack E. Boucher", "credit": "Jack E. Boucher; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-14", "image": "/county-images/8a123f0b89021e2cca57cc28df851ad7bffc00160041bf20ddaf6738ff9a770b.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024734pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024734pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024734p", "originalCaption": "14. INTERIOR DETAIL CUSTOMER COUNTER IN BAGGAGE ROOM - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 732, "title": "Interior detail customer counter in baggage room", "alt": "Interior detail customer counter in baggage room — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "April 1975", "creator": "Jack E. Boucher", "credit": "Jack E. Boucher; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false }, { "id": "nl-ct0346-15", "image": "/county-images/4268644845f395bf95c89fde67ddc924a7edf5015250f79ffdc2f22f76ac86c1.jpg", "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024735pv.jpg", "originalTiff": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0346/photos/024735pu.tif", "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0346.photos.024735p", "originalCaption": "15. GENERAL INTERIOR VIEW OF TICKET COUNTER AND WAITING ROOM - New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "width": 1024, "height": 731, "title": "General interior view of ticket counter and waiting room", "alt": "General interior view of ticket counter and waiting room — New London Railroad Station, State Street Vicinity, New London, New London County, CT", "date": "April 1975", "creator": "Jack E. Boucher", "credit": "Jack E. Boucher; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, HABS/HAER.", "rights": "No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted.", "license": "No known restrictions on publication — HABS/HAER survey photograph", "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html", "kind": "photograph", "later": false } ] }