Ramsey station (NJ Transit)
Ramsey | ||||||||||||||
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 Train departing for Hoboken, 2011 | ||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Main Street at Erie Plaza, Ramsey, Bergen County, New Jersey 07446 | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°03′24″N 74°08′32″W / 41.0568°N 74.1422°W | |||||||||||||
| Owned by | NJ Transit | |||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side platforms | |||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||
| Station code | 2323 (Erie Railroad)[1] | |||||||||||||
| Fare zone | 12[2] | |||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||
| Opened | October 19, 1848[3][4] | |||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1868[5] | |||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | 559 (average weekday)[6] | |||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||
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Ramsey is one of two railroad stations operated by New Jersey Transit in the borough of Ramsey, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Located on the Main Line and Bergen County Line, Ramsey station is also unofficially known as Ramsey – Main Street due to the opening of Ramsey Route 17 station to the north in 2004.
History
[edit]
Construction of the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad in 1848 cut through owned by Peter J. Ramsey, a local landowner in Franklin Township. Ramsey donated the land for the first railroad station in the area, known as Ramsey's. The first train arrived at Ramsey's on October 19, 1848.[3] The construction of the railroad also led to the establishment of a post office in the area. After Ramsey's death in 1854, the land was sold to William Pullis, who turned 22 of the 60 acres (24 ha) to John Dater, a local entrepreneur. Dater worked on opening a store and new structures in the area around Ramsey's station. A local hotel was constructed by David Valentine.[7]
The construction of the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad helped influence the local strawberry industry in Bergen County during the 1840s. The railroad shipped strawberries for local farmers to New York City via Piermont. In 1847, the railroad offered strawberry special trains to help with the delivery of the fruit with nine strawberry cargo cars and two cars for those who wanted to sell their fruit in New York City. Locals in Paterson and Newark requested their own shipments of strawberries and the supply soon met the demand. By the 1850s, Ramsey and nearby Allendale had become the location of most strawberry patches, taking over from Hackensack.[8]
As part of the high demand for strawberries after the American Civil War, the Erie Railroad, now operating the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad, built wooden boxcars that were painted white for the purpose of transporting strawberries. The Erie placed the special boxcars at the Allendale and Ramsey stations. However, the railroads strained the market in Bergen County, noting that the Erie advertised other places to start having their own strawberry farms. They also were delivering people who wanted to move to the area that bought the patches for housing. By the 1870s, the main strawberry crops were coming out of Maplewood and Irvington.[8]
Restoration (1978–1982)
[edit]In August 1978, the New Jersey State Transportation Commissioner Louis Gambaccini stated that he would be working to purchase 11 train stations in Bergen County from Conrail then lease them to the municipalities for $1 per year. Ramsey Mayor Emil Porfido announced at a Borough Council meeting in February 1979 that he had multiple ideas for use of the 1868 station depot. This would include using it for events for seniors and youth and health clinics, turning it into a community center. He also offered that he would allow a concession company for customers to take advantage of, along with the ticket sales.[9] Ramsey's borough engineer and inspector checked the depot in April 1979 and stated that the depot would need some renovation before it could be used for Porfido's interests.[5]
In November 1979, Porfido noted that the state would pay for a new parking lot at Ramsey station on North Central Avenue to reduce problems on Route 17. With the construction proposed of a new convenience store on Route 17, Porfido and Councilwoman Eleanor Rooney noted that commuters would lose a parking lot for their vehicles. The new parking lot would contain 160–190 spaces for commuters and be free of charge at the beginning.[10] The parking lot on Route 17 closed in December and Ramsey announced a new parking lot for bus riders would open at the Ramsey Industrial Mall on Spring Street in March 1980. At that time, Porfido announced that the federal subsidy for a new parking lot on North Central Avenue would soon be coming their way.[11]
On September 10, 1980, Porfido announced that they came to an agreement with the state to lease the depot at Ramsey station. The deal included undisclosed sums of state money to do the renovate and repair the structure along with the $1 per year deal to lease it. Porfido reiterated that it would be used as a community center. The station renovations would including repair of the slate roof, replacement of gutters and a new coat of paint. The station would recieve new lighting and both platforms would be resurfaced and extended. A 60-car parking lot would be paved for commuters to use. Porfido said the deal would be complete by early 1981 with renovations finished in June. Porfido also stated that the new parking lot on North Central Avenue would be released for bids on September 26 by the Federal Highway Administration. This new parking lot would be 2.6 acres (1.1 ha) and contain 175 spaces for commuters. The new lot would also have lights and a walkway to Ramsey station. Construction of the new lot would begin in the autumn of 1980.[12]
NJ Transit's Board of Directors approved the renovations at Ramsey and in nearby Park Ridge in November 1980. The approval noted that the ticket office would move towards the end of the depot, with the former ticket office and baggage room becoming the community center. The depot would receive two restrooms and as well, all at a cost of $60,000 (1980 USD) from the 1979 transportation bond issue. Conrail and its subcontractors would be the firm involve in construction.[13]
Construction of the parking lot and depot renovation finished in July 1981. The borough, Gambaccini and others held a dedication ceremony on July 9. Gambaccini and Martin Robins, the Associate Executive director of NJ Transit presented a framed sketch of the renovated Ramsey depot.[14] The dedication came at the same time as Conrail announced they would be removing two tracks between Ridgewood and the New York state line.[15] Porfido received a certificate from the Bergen County Board of Freeholders in September 1982 for his efforts to save and restore the station depot. The Historical Sites Advisory Board also commended Porfido for the preservation.[16]
Station layout and services
[edit]Ramsey station contains two tracks and two low-level side platforms. The two side platforms are connected via Main Street at the railroad crossing. Ramsey station has three separate parking lots, the first of which is on Main Street west of the tracks. The parking lot has 213 spaces, eight of which are accessible for handicapped persons. Maintained by the borough, the lot is permit parking during weekday mornings and afternoons. On evenings and weekend, it is free. The second lot is on the east side of the tracks at the junction of Mechanic Street and Prospect Street. The lot contains 152 spaces, five of which are accessible. The third and final lot is on North Central Avenue, containing 175 spaces, none of which are handicap-accessible. The station has a single ticket vending machine and bicycle parking next to the station depot.[17]
Ramsey station, along with neighboring Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus and Waldwick stations do not have any connecting bus service. The station is located in fare zone 12 with Ramsey Route 17 station.[18]
See also
[edit]- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bergen County, New Jersey
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
Bibliography
[edit]- Clayton, W. Woodford (1882). History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts & Peck.
References
[edit]- ^ "List of Station Names and Numbers". Jersey City, New Jersey: Erie Railroad. May 1, 1916. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ "Main and Bergen County Line Timetables" (PDF). Newark, New Jersey: New Jersey Transit Rail Operations. November 7, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2002. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ a b "Synopsis of Erie History". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. April 2, 1963. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cheslow, Jerry (September 7, 2003). "If You're Thinking of Living In/Ramsey, N.J.; Small-Town Life Survives the Pressures". The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Pangburn, John (April 30, 1979). "Ramsey's Durable Station". The Bergen Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. 25. Retrieved March 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kiefer, Eric (February 21, 2018). "Here Are New Jersey Transit's Most, Least-Used Train Stations". patch.com. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Clayton 1882, p. 336.
- ^ a b Cunningham, John T. (June 13, 1963). "Erie RR Boomed 'Bergen Berry' Market-Then Killed It". The Daily Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pangburn, John (March 1, 1979). "Ramsey May Buy Railroad Station in a Few Months". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. C3. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pangburn, John (November 29, 1979). "Ramsey Trying to Save Parking for Commuters". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. C6. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Shuart, Evelyn (March 2, 1980). "Drug Law is Repealed in Ramsey". The Sunday News. Ridgewood, New Jersey. pp. 2, 70. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Urcioli, John (September 11, 1980). "Ramsey to Use Station". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. D3. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pangburn, John (November 26, 1980). "New Look, New Management Coming to 2 Conrail Stations". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. C5. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "A sketch of the newly-renovated 74-year-old Ramsey depot..." The Ridgewood News. July 17, 1981. p. 2. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Shuart, Evelyn (July 12, 1981). "Ramsey Dedicates Park-Ride". The Sunday News. Ridgewood, New Jersey. pp. 3, 59. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Neighbors". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. September 22, 1982. p. C4. Retrieved October 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ramsey Main Street Station". njtransit.com. Newark, New Jersey: NJ Transit. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ "Main / Bergen Co. Timetable - Revised 7/1/24" (PDF). njtransit.com. Newark, New Jersey: NJ Transit. July 1, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Ramsey (NJT station) at Wikimedia Commons
