Quaker Ridge is a former railroad station on the White Plains branch of the

New York, Westchester and Boston Railway The New York, Westchester and Boston Railway Company (NYW&B, also known to its riders as "the Westchester" and colloquially as the "Boston-Westchester"), was an electric commuter railroad in the Bronx and Westchester County, New York from 1912 t ...

in the city of

New Rochelle New Rochelle (; older french: La Nouvelle-Rochelle) is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state. In 2020, the city had a population of 79,726, making it the seventh-largest in the state of ...

Westchester County Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population o ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. The station is named for the Quaker Ridge section of northern New Rochelle along the Scarsdale Town border. It was constructed by the New York, Westchester & Boston commuter railroad which linked

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

with the less populous northern

Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

section of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

and the primarily undeveloped countryside of Westchester County. The station was State-determined eligible for the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

but is not listed there.

Development

The Quaker Ridge property was seen as exceptionally well located for residential purposes. It was high, perfect in drainage, rolling in topography, and afforded magnificent views of Long Island Sound. Initially fifty acres of this property was surveyed and placed on the market. The property fronted on the Quaker Ridge Station, and intersected with wide, newly built drives and boulevards. The Quaker Ridge Improvement Company was later organized for further development of the surrounding area.

Station

Since the NYW&B was constructed all at once, one architectural firm, Fellheimer & Long with Allen H. Stem Associated Architects, designed all the stations, platforms and signals for the line. For reasons of continuity, maintenance and appearance, concrete was used as the material for all stations. Built in Renaissance, mission or classic styles, the NYW&B stations are considered among the most well-designed depots in the country. The design of the Quaker Ridge station’s peaked roof was inspired by Manhattan’s

Pennsylvania Station Pennsylvania Station (often abbreviated Penn Station) is a name applied by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) to several of its grand passenger terminals. Several are still in active use by Amtrak and other transportation services; others have been ...

. The main structure and covered platforms are of concrete and steel, with tile covering the roof area. The station proper is 52 feet in length, while the platforms represent a covered area of 340 feet, 170 feet on each side. From an architectural standpoint, the layout of the station was very well-designed. One unusual feature was the below-grade entrance leading to the station house located on an island platform between the northbound and southbound tracks. Commuters on the line were able to enter and leave the building with no problems and the station house protected them from the elements when necessary. The proximity to New York was a strong point of the station and the area, with commuters able to reach the southernmost point of Manhattan within fifty-three minutes or less. The station was built in 1912 and remained in operation until 1938 when financial distress caused the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway to shut down. The property lay dormant for many years until it was purchased by a local artist in the mid-1950s for conversion to a private residence. The building still retains most of the original details including the two original passenger platforms."Railroad Station becomes a Home” - The Deseret News
/ref> The original driveway and turn around for the station has been converted to a dead-end street.

References

External links

NYHometownLocator - Quaker Ridge Station (historical)Existing Railroad Stations in Westchester County, New York The United States Board on Geographic NamesNew York, Westchester, & Boston Railway
* {{New Rochelle, New York Buildings and structures in New Rochelle, New York Former railway stations in New York (state) Railway stations in Westchester County, New York Railway stations in the United States opened in 1912 Railway stations closed in 1938 1912 establishments in New York (state) 1938 disestablishments in New York (state)