120 years ago, 1905 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“Youngstown’s new and most modern railway station will be placed in commission on Sunday when a new era in local railroad service will be inaugurated in this city — description of the building — improved traveling facilities are inaugurated.”

“With the opening of the new line the inauguration of the new passenger schedule and the occupancy of the new station on Mahoning Avenue by the B.&O. Railway Company tomorrow will be marked the beginning of a new era in railroad service and facilities for this city.

“Their new and improved service and facilities cannot fail of adding greatly to the importance of this city as a railroad center and one that offers to shipper’s greater transportation facilities by rail than most any other of the cities of the country. It means the opening of another direct route between this city and Chicago and the other cities of the Great Lakes and to the east that will afford great accommodations both for passenger and freight traffic, and will undoubtedly be of great influence in deciding the location of new industries in the city or in the immediate vicinity in the Valley and along the line of the B.&O.

“The new line or ‘cut over’ as it is generally referred to, is one of the best built of any of the railroad lines in the country, in the building recourse being had to every modern invention and established idea in railroad construction….

“Work on the new line was started in December, 1903, and was rushed to completion as rapidly as liberal expenditure of money, the employment of an army of men, the most modern machinery, and careful consideration given the construction would allow. In this city alone hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent in the securing of the right of way and in the work of construction, the company allowing no reasonable demand to delay the work.

“The new passenger station in Mahoning Avenue is in appearance and furnishing the handsomest and provides better accommodations than any of the stations of the other roads entering the city. Its occupancy will be a welcome relief from the accommodations of the old depot — soon to be dismantled….

“The new station is built in antique German style. It is 150ft long by 70ft deep containing one general waiting room 70×50, one ladies’ private room and gentlemen’s smoking room, baggage room, also express room, and six offices on second floor. The wood work of the entire building is finished in quartered oak. The main building is built from grey pressed brick and Kilbuck stone. The waiting room floors are Spanish tile and the ceilings are Russian iron.

“The building will all be heated by steam and lighted by electric lights. The entrances from the depot to trains is arranged by two subways, one to eastbound trains and one to westbound trains. The tracks will be separated by an iron fence to prohibit passengers from crossing. The general entrance to the depot from Mahoning Avenue is a 10-foot cement walk. The driveway is 30ft, all limestone. The balance of the large entrance from Mahoning Avenue to depot which is 125ft wide will be plotted out in flower beds and grass. The main entrance of the depot to the general waiting room on the north side is porte cochere which is divided to allow passengers to alight from carriages and not be exposed to weather.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, Museum Educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society