Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 at 227 West Main Street in Springville, this red pressed brick railroad depot served the Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway. It has a hipped glazed-tile roof, a two-story engaged tower, cast stone trim and long wood brackets under the eaves. Inside, two waiting rooms of equal size flank a central cross hall with a ticket window, and a baggage room and parcel room sit at the north end. Local builder J.L. Shuttleworth constructed it to replace a smaller wood-frame depot from the 1880s, after commuter service and a second rail line made Springville a busier transportation point. The railway's engineering department designed the standard plan. The station is valued as a well-preserved example of a medium-sized early twentieth century depot, with original sash, doors, benches, and wood trim still in place. It is the last remaining depot on the line and a local landmark. The building is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The station is argued to be architecturally significant as a distinguished and largely intact example of early twentieth century railroad depot architecture. It also represents the growth of railroads in Western New York and their effect on the region's industrial and economic development. It is the only depot still remaining on the Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh line.
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 91001669, listed November 7, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 227 W. Main St., Springville |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 7, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001669 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910 |
| Architect / builder | J.L. Shuttleworth, builder (architect unknown; designed by the railway's engineering department) |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant, not in use; the form reports the building retains nearly all original decorative features, with only a section of roof rafters and terra cotta tiles replaced. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.50893, -78.67551 (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 91001669.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4985633
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.