(rshsdepot) Pompton Plains, NJ

["J. Henry Priebe Jr." <root_@_net.bluemoon.net>]

On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 Ed Engelbart said:

> Dear Webmaster,
> I am the Mayor of the Township of Pequannock. The Township of Pequannock
> just purchased the 1872 Pompton Plains Railroad Station to use as a town
> museum. The Historic Dist. Commisssion is interested in restoring the
> station to an approximate 1910 look. The station is presently painted red.
> We know this is not an Erie Station color. Do you know what the exterior
> paint color would have been for the stations along the Erie Lackawanna
> Greenwood Lake Division around 1910. We are interested in repainting the
> station in the spring. Any assistance you can give us in this mater would be
> greatly appreciated. We are interested in any ideas you have in regard to
> restoring this station. Naturally  we would be happy to share any
> information we have on this station.
> Ed Engelbart, Mayor Township of Pequannock, N.J.  

Ed,

I have CC'ed this to our Erie Lackawanna email list and the Railroad Station
Historical Society in case anyone from these lists can help out with more
information.

From what I understand the Erie standardized on a light green for walls with
darker green for trim during their 1909 to 1912 station upgrade program. I
don't know of the actual color names for the colors used. Many stations
remained in predecssor railroad colors for quite a while so it can be hard to
pin down specific stations for specific years.

According to ELHTS member Howard Haines, the walls would have been a light
green with dark green window sills and a mix on doors or all dark green.  An
example can be seen on the cover of the book "Susquehanna" by Carstens
publishing.  It shows the Crystal Lake station in Erie-controlled colors on
the NYSW. in 1938-40 after the bankruptcy, Erie started with a cream-dark
green scheme, with red window sashes.

You will want to check out the station photos at the Syracuse University
Digital Library's collection. While they are black and white photos they are
good 1909 period views.

http://digilib.syr.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/erie_railroad&CISOPTR=455&REC=11

http://digilib.syr.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/erie_railroad&CISOPTR=454&REC=12

I have looked at photos of a lot of Erie depots and very few color images show
the Erie light green/dark green scheme.

Have a look at these modern era views which appear to use the light green/dark
green paint scheme.

1897 Calicoon, NY station:
http://www.existingstations.com/archive/203.jpg

Livonia, NY:
http://www.existingstations.com/archive/227.jpg

Eden Center, NY:
http://www.existingstations.com/archive/211.jpg

Forrestville, NY:
http://www.existingstations.com/archive/213.jpg

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the colors or painting styles in the above
photos, but they should help to give you some ideas.

Googling for information and photos I came across Kevin K Olsen
<olsenkbce_@_juno.com> looking for Pompton Plains depot plans. If you haven't
been in contact with him already, he may have information which would interest
you. http://email.rutgers.edu/wa?A2=ind0408c&L=nj_history&F=&S=&P=1200

I hope I have been able to provide some assistance and best of luck with your
museum project!

Henry

J. Henry Priebe Jr.    Blue Moon Internet Corp Network Administrator
www.bluemoon.net       Internet Access & Web Hosting
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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