News Department

GoFundMe started to help restore the Phillipsburg Union Train Station

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ (Warren County) – A GoFundMe account has been set up to help raise funds to restore the historic Phillipsburg Union Train Station in Phillipsburg.

Aaron D. Coleman is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center Inc.

Many local business owners such as Platinum Star Cleaning has spent the last year and a half cleaning and donating over 500 hours to cleaning and organizing the building, Kay’s electric re-did all the electric on the first floor, and many local leaders and volunteers have donated their time, Coleman said.

The building was open to the public last year for the first time during the first-of-its-kind Phillipsburg Railroad Festival. Thousands of  visitors walked through the almost fully restored first floor of the station which was built in 1914, Coleman said.

“Giving back and donating time is probably one of the most important things we can do as a community. Dedicating yourself to making a change is greater than anything else. This is why we are so passionate about getting the Train Station open as a museum for the community of Phillipsburg and The Friends of the New Jersey Heritage Center, Coleman said.

“Having this building open to the public and the Town of Phillipsburg will be the stepping stone to a brighter future for tourism. We are trying to open in June of 2023. We are hoping to finish the restoration of the first floor, but we need your help to achieve this,” Coleman said.

Funds raised will be used for the final restoration of the first floor:

  • Wood partitions for bathrooms, trim in the main waiting room, men’s waiting room, and ladies’ waiting room.
  • Ticket office woodwork, plaster repair, and cork floor restoration.
  • Rebuild the CNJ and Lackawanna Ticket office windows with metal gates, reverse glass painting “TICKETS” signage.
  • CNJ and Lackawanna staircase repair of railings and plasterwork.
  • Final staining of doors and benches.
  • Hardware for all doors.
  • Restoration of original brass sconces

The first railroad to arrive in Phillipsburg was the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), which opened on July 2, 1852. The first DL&W station in Phillipsburg was built in 1868 on the west side of Market St. at the junction of the DL&W and the CNJ. In 1914, the DL&W replaced it with the existing brick and concrete structure.

The new union station, also served by the CNJ, was constructed between 1912 and 1914. It is a 57’ by 61’ two-story Prairie-style brick building located at Main Street. Designed by DL&W architect Frank J. Nies, the building employed very diverse and interesting construction materials.

The GoFundMe has set a goal of $25,000 and as of Monday morning, it has raised $300. If you would like to donate to help out, click here.

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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