Not far off of 23B set back from the road there is a yellow building. It looks a lot like a barn, there is a beautiful old house in front of it, a little garage besides it. To any one driving down 23B you would not give it a second glance, I never did. It wasn't until I met the owner that I realized what it was.
The building is an old train station that ran from 1849 to 1972. The soon to be previous owners had turned it into an antique shop about twenty years ago. The owner of the shop told me that the previous owner asked that she not tear down the old double out house next to the Train station. Yes, double one for men and one for women.
The couple is now moving to be closer to their family. Which I guess if you are not originally from the area that is what you do. They will be missed and so will their shop. Along with all of the great treasures collected through the years. I managed to snag two old cameras .
I was able to get a chance to visit the Antique shop/ Train station. The building has not been touched since closing in 1972. Nothing had changed inside to the sales window to the old wooden benches. The tall windows that look out to the back woods of Craryville. This train line ran from Craryville to Catham. Which is about 25 min. North.
I couldn't help but wonder, how many people from Craryville and Hilsdale spent time in the train station. How may people would sit on those benches waiting for the train, like they do today in Hudson. Or how many little faces pressed their noses and hands to the glass to see the train go by. How many goodbyes or hello's were said here.
Craryville is one of may little small towns in Columbia county and this train station may be lost in history. The train stations now, with a few exceptions (Hudson being one) are not as common. We drive everywhere. Everyone has cars. Train travel is now more of a luxury than a necessity. Which is wonderful on so many levels. But this train station is a part of American history. It ran for over 120 yrs. That in itself is pretty amazing and sad. I hope whoever has the land next does this piece of our counties history justice.