~ FITCHBURG RAILROAD PASSANGER STATION ~
MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS - 1983Transcribed and submitted by Ray Shoop
Article by Dana R. Philbrook and Richard Conard
Picture from Paul Polewacyk's Collection
Station torn down courtesy of Fossile Construction of Marlborough
Dana R. Philbrook and R. Richard Conard
In 1893 the Fitchburg Railroad opened a new passenger station in the bustling shoe manufacturing city of Marlboro, Massachusetts. The new station, located at Lincoln and Mechanic Streets, replaced an old outmoded combination passenger and freight station at Washington and Prospect Streets, about 1000 feet to the southeast. Both stations were “stub” type terminals of the Fitchburg Railroad’s Marlboro Branch.
Construction of the new station began in the fall of 1892. The identity of the architect is unknown. The station, formally dedicated on June 5, 1893, was a building of wooden construction which can best be described architecturally as simplified ‘Stick Style” with Eastlake ornamentations. The most prominent exterior feature of the station was its ornate clock tower (surmounted by a weathervane), which served to identify the location of the station and to beckon passengers as train time approached. The steep pitch of the clock tower roof was duplicated in the gable on the roof of the porte cochere located on the south, or Lincoln Street side. Twin bays with protruding turreted roofs at the front corners of the station further enhanced the appearance of the building. A separate baggage and express building at the east end was connected to the station by a common roof.
The station was originally painted in standard Fitchburg Railroad colors of “medium drab” (gray) with terra cotta (brownish orange) wainscoting. The body of the clock tower was lemon yellow with a trim combination of terra cotta and medium drab. Ornate decorative carved wooden panels and braces were located at many exterior points, and beautiful stained glass window panels displayed the railroad’s initials.
The centrally located entrance was covered by a porte cochere, which afforded protection from the elements for passengers arriving by carriage. The entrance led to the waiting room, handsomely finished in cypress, with a raised ceiling divider into over 30 panel sections and painted a cloudy white color so as to give the illusion of a much larger interior space. The end bays were set off from the waiting room by interior arches. The west bay encompassed a table surrounded by rattan rockers, a wall clock, mantel and fireplace. The ticket office occupied the east bay. The exit door to the trains was in the northeast corner adjacent to the ticket office.
Passenger service to Marlboro by the Boston & Maine Railroad (successor to the Fitchburg) ended April 29, 1939. Five months later the station building was completely discontinued for railroad use when the freight agent’s office was moved into the former baggage building. Both buildings were later sold to Herbert Brigham. The passenger station, complete with waiting benches and interior ornamentations, has been used for storage ever since. For many years Brigham operated an automobile agency and gasoline station from the baggage and express buildings, and part of this building is still in daily use as the gasoline station office. Time, weather and vandalism have taken their toll on the station, although its interior is generally well preserved. The clock tower was the first to go, sometime in the 1940s, followed by the porte cochere. Within the past ten years vandals have destroyed the ornate stained glass windows with the Fitchburg Railroad’s initials. Herbert Brigham has tried (so far unsuccessfully) to have the station listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Within the past several years, efforts have been underway to establish a State Heritage Park in Marlboro (similar in concept to the one at Lowell but on a much smaller scale) in an attempt to encourage local economic development by using historic preservation to display the city’s industrial heritage. As part of this project it has been proposed to restore the 91-year-old railroad station for use as a visitor’s center. Funds for the park have been appropriated by the state legislature, but to date, no local interest has been insufficient to advance the project beyond the planning state.
The authors would like to express their appreciation to Ronald Brigham for his assistance in the preparation of this article.
Note: The city name is officially spelled Marlborough but the railroad always shortened it to Marlboro.
Bibliography
The information collected for this ‘snapshot history’ is only a tiny part of the knowledge contained in these listed reference books. Much more detailed information on the facts; people and history are available within their pages. They are available thru the Marlborough Public Library.
RESEARCH SOURCES:
The Daily Enterprise (Marlboro, Mass.) May 11, 1893 and June 6, 1893.
B&MRR Terminal Division Bulletin Order No. 195, Sept 28, 1939.
B&M Bulletin, Winter 1983-84.
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