Historic Train Depot Mayville NY
This train depot located at 16 Water Street depicting the railroad tracks located on the site of the Chautauqua Lake Pops was originally the Pennsylvania Railroad Station. The station was constructed in 1925 and is a 1 1/2 story, brick structure with an overhanging hip roof. The building measures 117 by 29 feet and replaced a building constructed in 1871. The depot is on a prominent spot along the shoreline at the head of Chautauqua Lake, close to one end of the historic "Portage Trail" used by Native Americans and later by French explorers and soldiers. There was a trolley stop by the Chautauqua Traction Company with service beginning in 1906. Notable visitors to the station included Harry Houdini, magic's greatest showman, daredevil and escape artist; President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States and the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell came through Chautauqua County in 1915 aboard the Liberty Bell Express on its last display journey that took it into Buffalo from Pittsburgh and Mayville, across NYS and eventually to its permanent home in Philadelphia PA.
"After traveling from Youngstown Ohio to Pittsburgh PA, the Liberty Bell Express headed North on the original Allegheny Valley Railroad through Kittanning PA and Oil City PA. After those stops, instead of heading Northeast toward Warren PA on a track that may have taken the Liberty Bell through Cattaraugus County, the train traveled North through Titusville PA to hook up with the Chautauqua branch of the Pennsylvania R.R. on a more direct route to Buffalo. According to a story in the November 24, 1915 Buffalo Evening News, the train left Mayville for Dunkirk at 6:21 a.m. well behind schedule due to the crowds clamoring to see its priceless passenger at every stop. Scheduled to arrive in Buffalo at 7:30 that morning via the Lake Shore track, the train didn't show until almost 9 a.m."
The former Pennsylvania R.R. can be traced back to 1867 when the Buffalo, Oil Creek and Cross Cut Railroad ran through the village from Corry PA to Brocton NY. The original station was built by the Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburgh Railroad as a means to get the large influx of summer tourists to the area. Sadly, it later burned on May 24, 1923.
"After traveling from Youngstown Ohio to Pittsburgh PA, the Liberty Bell Express headed North on the original Allegheny Valley Railroad through Kittanning PA and Oil City PA. After those stops, instead of heading Northeast toward Warren PA on a track that may have taken the Liberty Bell through Cattaraugus County, the train traveled North through Titusville PA to hook up with the Chautauqua branch of the Pennsylvania R.R. on a more direct route to Buffalo. According to a story in the November 24, 1915 Buffalo Evening News, the train left Mayville for Dunkirk at 6:21 a.m. well behind schedule due to the crowds clamoring to see its priceless passenger at every stop. Scheduled to arrive in Buffalo at 7:30 that morning via the Lake Shore track, the train didn't show until almost 9 a.m."
The former Pennsylvania R.R. can be traced back to 1867 when the Buffalo, Oil Creek and Cross Cut Railroad ran through the village from Corry PA to Brocton NY. The original station was built by the Buffalo, Corry and Pittsburgh Railroad as a means to get the large influx of summer tourists to the area. Sadly, it later burned on May 24, 1923.
Through many mergers, consolidations and acquisitions over the years, the rail lines became owned by the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad which later began using simply Pennsylvania Railroad. After the original station burned, PRR appropriated money to build a new station on the same site as the original and subsequently opened it for business during the summer of 1925.
The last passengers arrived at the station during the summer of 1949 and the building was abandoned by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1950. The property was purchased by the Village of Mayville in 1968, but the Chautauqua Town Historical Society did not start leasing part of the station for a museum until 1977.
Today's historic train depot was added to the National Registry of Historic Places on August 6, 1993.
Train Depot 1871
Circa 1874
Be Safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
