Program

Historic Transportation

Subject

Industry & Commerce, Site, Transportation

Location

180 Main St, Altamont, NY 12009, USA

Lat/Long

42.701036, -74.032986

Grant Recipient

Guilderland Historical Society

The Delaware & Hudson Canal Company incorporated by an act of the New York State Legislature in 1823 for purposes of operating a canal, which was completed in 1828 and used for supplying New York City and other parts of the state with coal transported from Pennsylvania. Looking to obtain improved modes of transportation, an 1867 act of the state legislature allowed the company to construct, own, and maintain railroads in the state. In 1870, the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company acquired the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, a 142-mile line providing freight and passenger service between Albany and Binghamton that had been completed in December 1868. After acquiring additional railroad lines, the company received authorization in 1899 to sell their canal and officially change its name to the Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Company.

In 1897, the D&H Company built a new passenger and freight station in the village of Altamont as a replacement for an earlier station building. Passenger service on the D&H line between Albany and Binghamton continued until January 1963, when it was discontinued after operating at a significant loss. At the time, the D&H reported that passenger patronage had been in a steady decline in recent years and the use of buses were partly attributed to this decline.

Shortly after passenger service ended, the former Altamont station was purchased by the village and used as a village hall and offices. Then in 2005, the Altamont Free Library purchased the building and began a restoration project with the goal of turning the station into the library’s home. In 2012, the project was completed, and the library held its grand opening in the former station in June of that year. As of 2023, the former station continues to serve the community as the Altamont Free Library.