Ready to explore a piece of Staten Island’s history? Right here we find the Old Town Station. It is more than just a place to catch a train.
Old Town Station serves the neighborhood of Old Town. This neighborhood has a rich past. It was the first permanent European settlement on Staten Island. The settlement was established in 1661. It was called “Oude Dorpe” meaning old village in Dutch.
The Old Town station you see today opened in 1937. The station was part of a project to eliminate grade crossings. The station’s original name was Old Town Road. The name was shortened after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority took over.
Look around at the station’s layout. The Old Town Station sits on an embankment on Railroad Avenue. Notice the two side platforms, canopies and metal orange walls. These provide shelter from the elements.
Did you know there’s a hidden piece of history just north of here? A spur once served the Staten Island Advance newspaper’s press building. Today, it is a storage spur for ballast cars.
Consider the exits from Old Town Station. The main exit at the south end leads to Old Town Road. Another staircase at the north end of the northbound platform leads to Dawson Place and Oregon Road.
The next time you pass through Old Town Station, remember its place in history. This station connects you to the past of Staten Island. It links you to the present of this vibrant neighborhood.