The current American Legion in Port Byron is significant for its association with interurban rail transportation in the early 20th century. Between 1909 and 1931, two electric trolley lines connected Port Byron with Auburn, Rochester and Syracuse. The building, which now houses the American Legion, served as the passenger and freight station for both trolley lines until the increasing prevalence of automobile travel brought the era of interurban rail transport to a close.
The old station building is located on land formerly a part of the Charles C. Adams estate on the west side of Main Street. Between 1895 and 1907, the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Railroad Company consolidated land to the south of the old Erie Canal in Port Byron for its rail depot and right of way.
The depot was completed in time for the first trolley to come through Port Byron in 1909. The trolley tracks ran along the north side of the station, with the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern line continuing straight eastward and the Auburn and Northern tracks curving around to follow Main Street to the south.
Built according to standard plans designed by Gordon A. Wright, a Syracuse architect, the depot was a “L” shape, with a 25 passenger waiting room fronting on Main Street and a freight room 20 feet wide by 50 feet long at the rear. The waiting room seated 35 people and had a ticket office and rest rooms at the back. Sliding doors 9 feet wide opened on the loading platform for wagons and later trucks. The trolley fare from Port Byron to Syracuse was 50 cents for a 25-mile trip. This was faster than the New York Central. Again, this put Port Byron in a classic position of being central for the movement of people and commerce for within 10 years time would be the demise of the old Erie Canal through town.
The trolleys ran through Port Byron until 1931. In 1936, the liquidating corporation of the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Company sold the station property to Alex VanDitto, a legionnaire.
VanDitto resold it the same year to the John Cool Post of the American Legion, which is named for a Port Byron man killed in World War I.
Sources: Cornell University, 1996; Bruce Carter (former historian) and various newspapers and 2004 historical calendar.
Penny Helzer is historian for the
village of Port Byron. She can be reached at 776-5300 or e-mail CraftyPenny@tds.net
The depot was completed in time for the first trolley to come through Port Byron in 1909. The trolley tracks ran along the north side of the station, with the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern line continuing straight eastward and the Auburn and Northern tracks curving around to follow Main Street to the south.
Built according to standard plans designed by Gordon A. Wright, a Syracuse architect, the depot was a “L” shape, with a 25 passenger waiting room fronting on Main Street and a freight room 20 feet wide by 50 feet long at the rear. The waiting room seated 35 people and had a ticket office and rest rooms at the back. Sliding doors 9 feet wide opened on the loading platform for wagons and later trucks. The trolley fare from Port Byron to Syracuse was 50 cents for a 25-mile trip. This was faster than the New York Central. Again, this put Port Byron in a classic position of being central for the movement of people and commerce for within 10 years time would be the demise of the old Erie Canal through town.
The trolleys ran through Port Byron until 1931. In 1936, the liquidating corporation of the Rochester, Syracuse and Eastern Company sold the station property to Alex VanDitto, a legionnaire.
VanDitto resold it the same year to the John Cool Post of the American Legion, which is named for a Port Byron man killed in World War I.
Sources: Cornell University, 1996; Bruce Carter (former historian) and various newspapers and 2004 historical calendar.
Penny Helzer is historian for the
village of Port Byron. She can be reached at 776-5300 or e-mail CraftyPenny@tds.net
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