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Phillipsburg, New Jersey– The Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center is excited to announce the long-awaited historic Phillipsburg Union Train Station will finally be opening its doors as a transportation museum. The grand opening fundraiser will feature a ribbon cutting, Phillipsburg High School Band, food, wine beer, dessert on Friday, June 16th at 5:30 pm. A limited number of tickets to this historic event are $100 and 100% of the proceeds go to the further restoration of the Phillipsburg Union Station.
For 25+ years, the Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center, a non-profit organization, has been dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and
operation of New Jersey’s artifacts. The organization is headquartered in the historic Phillipsburg Union Station. The restoration project has been in the works for many years, and it is finally coming to fruition for the “Friends” and The Town of Phillipsburg.
Opened in 1914, Union Station was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (DL&W) and shared with the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and was situated where the lines merged before the bridge crossing the Delaware River.
Designed by Frank J. Nies, the architect who produced many of DL&W stations now listed state and federal registers of historic places, the 2 1/2 story, 3 bay brick building is an unusual example of a union station and a representation of early 20th century Prairie style architecture.
This has been an important landmark in the community for over a century. The “Friends” have been restoring this gem to its former glory since 2004. The restoration process was extensive and involved many different aspects of the building. The inside of the main floor has been restored to its original design and layout. The original ticket windows and counters and waiting room benches, and pink marble bathrooms were all rebuilt and new displays were added to showcase the history of the railroad town.
“We are thrilled to finally be able to open the doors of the train station as a museum to the public,” said Aaron Coleman, local business owner at Platinum Star Cleaning who spearheaded the completion of the restoration project. “We are proud to have been a part of this restoration project, we believe in giving back to the community, and this was a great opportunity for us to make a positive impact.” “This building is not only a piece of our community’s history, but it’s also an important part of our country’s railroad history,” said Coleman.
The grand opening of the museum will feature various transportation display’s and visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the railroad town and how the train station played a role in its development as a major transportation hub as in one time five railroads were in Phillipsburg.
“We hope that this museum will be a source of pride for the community and a destination for visitors from near and far,” said Tom Hellyer, President of the “Friends.” “We are excited to share the history of the town and the importance of the railroad with everyone who visits.” said Hellyer.
We are thrilled to see the train station transformed into a museum,” said Todd Tersigni, Mayor of The Town of Phillipsburg. “It is a testament to what can be accomplished when the community comes together to work toward a common goal.”
Be the first to see this beautiful renovation and join us at the grand opening on June 16th at 5:30 pm. Please visit www.friendsnjthc.org to purchase tickets or donate to the further restoration of the Phillipsburg Union Station.
Information provided to TVL by:
Phillipsburg N.J. Railroad
Aaron D. Coleman
