Central Railroad of New Jersey Freight Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1891 by Wilson Brothers, this brick freight station stands on the banks of the Lackawanna River in Scranton. It is a basically rectangular structure with a tapering east end, a three-story western section with a hipped roof and dormers, and a two-story eastern section. Large round-arched openings with heavy radiating brick arches give it a Richardson Romanesque character, and a three-story circular tower with a conical roof rises at the northwest corner. The station was built during the period when coal from the Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys was shipped by rail, and Scranton grew rapidly as a result. The Central Railroad of New Jersey extended its line from Wilkes-Barre to Scranton in 1886. The building is regarded as one of the few remaining stations still standing in Scranton and as a fine example of the type of station once common in northeastern Pennsylvania. Its first floor interior is largely unchanged, while the second floor has been converted to office use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station played an important part in the growth of commerce in the region during the coal and railroad boom era in Scranton and the Lackawanna Valley. It is described as one of the few remaining stations still standing in Scranton and as a fine example of the type of station once prevalent in the area.
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 79002250, listed August 1, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 602 W. Lackawanna Ave, Scranton |
|---|---|
| County | Lackawanna County |
| Listed | August 1, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002250 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Wilson Brothers |
| Architectural style | Richardson Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Many windows are boarded up, the eaves and roof are in an advanced state of decay, and the second floor has been altered for office space. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.41164, -75.67086 (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.
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 79002250.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5061740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.