North Abington Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1893-94 beside a former railroad right of way in North Abington, this small depot measures about 25 by 93 feet and is walled in random-coursed granite trimmed with brownstone. A two-story octagonal tower faces the street, a one-story octagonal ticket office projects on the track side, and a steep black slate roof with copper ridges extends over a 125-foot platform supported by wooden posts and curved brackets. Stained glass appears over doors and windows. Bradford Lee Gilbert, an architect who specialized in railroad stations and public buildings, designed it in the Richardsonian style. The depot was given to the town by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad after the 1893 North Abington Riot, a clash between railroad laborers and townspeople building a streetcar line. The resulting court decision is still cited, and railroad officials served sentences. The station closed in 1959, suffered vandalism, and awaits restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is significant for its Richardsonian Romanesque architecture by an architect who specialized in railroad stations and public buildings. It is also tied to the 1893 North Abington Riot, after which the depot was built as a peace offering to the town. The riot led to a court decision still cited as precedent and to prison sentences for railroad officials.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76001612, listed May 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Railroad St., North Abington |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | May 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001612 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893-94 |
| Architect / builder | Bradford Lee Gilbert |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed since 1959 and in disrepair after vandalism; a local depot association has leased it from the MBTA and is raising funds to restore it as a community and crafts center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.12918, -70.94180 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76001612.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7053648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.