Wellsville Erie Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1911, this red brick railroad depot sits on Depot Street in Wellsville, Allegany County, New York, one block from Main Street. The one-story, seven-bay building is 132 feet long and trimmed with tooled Warsaw bluestone. Syrian-arched openings, a terra-cotta tile hipped roof with flared eaves, and brick imitating corner quoins give it a blend of Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival character. Inside, a central waiting room is flanked by a ticket office, baggage room, ladies' waiting room, smoking room and express office, all finished with oak woodwork that survives intact. It replaced an earlier depot of about 1853, and local businessmen pressed the Erie Railroad for the new station. The depot is valued as a rare, well-preserved small-town passenger station and as a reminder of the railroad's role in the village's growth. It has been vacant for several years and shows some water damage, but restoration and reuse are planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, substantially intact example of a small, picturesque passenger station typical of New York's Southern Tier. It blends Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival elements and keeps a high level of integrity inside and out. It also reflects the railroad's central role in Wellsville's growth and prosperity.
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 87001426, listed August 27, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Depot St., Wellsville |
|---|---|
| County | Allegany County |
| Listed | August 27, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001426 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | William Henry, Contractor |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival influence |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for several years with some water damage; privately owned and slated for restoration and adaptive reuse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | The Village of Wellsville East Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.12350, -77.94801 (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 87001426.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7981779
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.