Period
1887
Chatham Union Station
Location
Chatham, New York
Notables
National Register of Historic Places
The New York State Historic Preservation Award by The State Historic Preservation Office for Outstanding Rehabilitation.
HISTORICAL LEGACY
The Chatham Union Station was built in 1887 for the Boston & Albany Railroad Company. It was designed by Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge who were successors to H.H. Richardson. The building features a bell-cast hipped roof and masonry walls of light granite with brownstone trim; the trademark of Richardson. In 1906, a severe fire resulted in significant alterations to the station. After passenger service ceased in 1972, the station suffered a long period of neglect. In 1997 the National Union Bank of Kinderhook acquired the station from the Village for adaptive use as a banking facility.
George Foster Shepley
Charles Hercules Rutan
Charles Allerton Coolidge
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The restoration of Chatham Union Station began with a comprehensive existing conditions report, followed by design and construction administration. The project encompassed both interior and exterior restoration, ensuring the station’s historic character was preserved. To support the effort, MCWB also prepared the Historic Preservation Certification Application for the National Park Service, qualifying the project for preservation tax credits.
REALIZATION
In addition, the exterior and interior restoration, all new mechanical and electrical systems were provided and designed to be visually integrated with the historic fabric of the interior.
Work on the exterior included:
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Replacement of the central portion of the roof framing structure
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Replacement of the slate roof
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Restoration of windows and doors
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Cleaning and re-pointing of granite and brownstone masonry walls
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Repair and replacement of wood trim and canopy elements
Work on the interior included:
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Reconfiguration of walls in secondary spaces to accommodate banking functions
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Stripping and refinishing of original quarter-sawn white oak wall paneling
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Restoration of the original articulated ceiling system lost in the 1906 fire
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Design of period decorative lighting fixtures
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Selection of decorative carpeting and drapery fabrics
Custom designed period furniture and millwork including desks, conference table and teller stations were also a part of the interior work.
