Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Industry & Commerce, Site, Transportation

Location

Station Park - Freeville, Freeville, NY 13068, USA

Lat/Long

42.513157, -76.345134

Grant Recipient

Village of Freeville

From 1870 to around 1976, Freeville, New York, served as a regional rail hub for passengers and freight thanks to the crossing of two rail lines through the village. In 1870, the Ithaca & Cortland Railroad became operational. At Freeville, this new line crossed an existing Southern Central line. In 1890, both lines were acquired by the Lehigh Valley Railroad. For decades, at least four trains would be at the Freeville junction twice a day, each train looking to exchange passengers, baggage, or freight, and then get cleared for departure. The traffic from the railroad junction aided the growth and development of Freeville and in 1887, voters of the village made the decision to incorporate. Freight service on the two lines continued into the 1970s. Around 1976, both rail lines closed, and the junction ceased to exist.