Central Railroad of New Jersey Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1868 in Wilkes-Barre, this two and one-half story brick passenger station has one and one-half story wings on either side and a large overhanging roof that extends over the waiting platform on the east end. Its main block is seven bays wide, with a gable roof, two gabled dormers on each side, and a large octagonal wooden cupola. Iron brackets, segmental-arched windows and centre gables on the wings reflect the Victorian styles of the period. The station was the operational headquarters for the Lehigh and Susquehanna Division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, where offices directed the movement of anthracite coal to markets. It was regarded as one of the most ornate and luxurious passenger stations on the line. Passenger service ended in 1963, and the station closed on March 31, 1972. Although structurally sound, it has deteriorated, with ruined interiors, boarded and broken windows, and a roof in need of repair. It is listed for its architecture and its link to the coal-era railroad economy of the region.
Significance in brief: The station is one of the few remaining elements of the railroad that played an important role in the economic development of northeastern Pennsylvania. It served as operational headquarters for the Lehigh and Susquehanna Division, whose offices routed anthracite coal shipments to markets. Its Victorian design, with iron brackets, centre gables and a cupola, is cited as a fine example of Victorian architecture adapted to railroad stations.
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 75001652, listed May 12, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 31-35 S. Baltimore St., Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | May 12, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001652 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1868 |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally sound but deteriorated; interiors in ruin, first floor windows boarded, second floor windows broken, roof in need of repair; passenger service discontinued in 1963 and station closed March 31, 1972. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.24206, -75.87928 (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 75001652.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5061743
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.