Wikipedia:Today's featured article/February 8, 2013

La Stazione is an Italian restaurant and former train station in the village of New Paltz in Ulster County, New York. The building was the first of two railroad stations constructed in the town of New Paltz, and it is the only former Wallkill Valley Railroad station standing at its original location. Built in 1870, it burned down in 1907 and was rebuilt later that year (pictured). The rise of the automobile caused the railroad to end passenger service in 1937; by 1959 the station was completely closed and sold off. It was then used by a variety of businesses and organizations, including a public-access television station. Freight service along the Wallkill Valley line continued until 1977, when the corridor was shut to regular rail traffic. The building was in such a state of disrepair by the 1980s that it was almost demolished, and the nearby tracks were torn up and sold for scrap by 1984. However, the station avoided demolition and was renovated in 1988, becoming a restaurant in 1999. The adjacent rail corridor was also rehabilitated, and opened as a public walkway, the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail. La Stazione was expanded in 2003 and served as the setting for a scene in a 2008 mob film. (Full article...)

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