Wilkes-Barre's 1868 built CNJ Railroad Depot
Initially built for the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad, this 1868 two and a half story, brick building with one and one half-story wings on either side came under the Central of New Jersey Railroad's control when that line leased the L&S in 1871. The Victorian style station served passengers until 1963, and finally closed in 1972, after which the tracks were later removed and paved over. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The station sat unused for some time afterwards - (click here) for an image by Tom Trencansky in 1976. Plans for its reuse and restoration have been made and broken time after time. It lived for a time as a cocktail bars called “The Station” and a club joint called “Banana Joe’s”. Two old pullman cars were converted into hotel rooms, bars, and even a dance floor. Those cars and additions have since been removed.
On track for a brighter future in 2020
A developer named George Albert confirmed that a critical piece of funding has been assured, and renovation of the depot is underway. The develooper's plan is to restore the building for office space — his own group will be based there — and potentially also to host a Luzerne County visitors’ center. The mayor of Wilkes-Barre is pushing for space within to house a Planters Peanuts historical display, though I think he's nuts. Planters, however, was in fact founded in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania by Italian immigrant Amedeo Obici.
Wilkes-Barre was also served by another station (lost to time) that hosted the Delaware and Hudson Railway, the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
