Bridgewater Railroad Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 beside US Route 20 in Bridgewater, this long, low timber frame depot served two railroads at the point where they met: the short-line Unadilla Valley Railway and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western branch linking Utica with Richfield Springs. Under one roof it holds a passenger waiting room, a stationmaster's office and a large freight and baggage room. The office has a separate desk and bay window on each side, one for each line, with a single ticket window opening onto the shared waiting room. Exterior details include board siding, a scallop-sawed frieze and bracketed eaves. The station handled passengers, mail, milk and freight until service ended around 1960. Local businesses later used the building until the Bridgewater Historical Society bought it in 2003. It has seen few alterations and keeps its original woodstove and beadboard interior. It was listed for its role in regional rail history and its well-preserved design.
Significance in brief: The station is significant for its association with early twentieth-century rail transportation in central New York and as a highly intact example of vernacular, railroad-related architecture. It is unusual for having served two rail lines that were not physically connected, the Unadilla Valley Railway and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. It is described as a rare surviving example of its type and period in Oneida County.
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 06000264, listed April 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 20, Bridgewater |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Listed | April 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000264 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901-1960 |
| Architectural style | No style (vernacular railroad-related architecture) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed as vacant/not in use; the Bridgewater Historical Society acquired it in 2003 and has begun restoring it as a community center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.87925, -75.24626 (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 06000264.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706197
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.