Croton's First Train Station

This article presents a historically significant photograph of Croton's inaugural train station, circa 1849. The station was constructed in 1849 and situated on the river side of the tracks, positioned across from what is now the intersection of North Riverside Avenue and Grand Street.

The image was sourced from filmmaker and historian Ken Sargeant's collection of 19th-century Croton photographs, obtained through collaboration with Roberta Arminio at the Ossining Historical Society. The photograph is notable as potentially the earliest documentation of the first station at Croton Landing.

What makes this image particularly significant is its depiction of the Hudson River shoreline before extensive landfill operations extended the waterfront. The photograph also captures a meaningful juxtaposition between old and new transportation methods of the era.

The article includes a comparative analysis using an 1850 property map of Phillip G. Van Wyck's land holdings. The map reveals landfill and structures on the river side that do not appear in the photograph, suggesting the image dates from 1849, the year the station was constructed.