Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Site, Transportation

Location

4 Railroad Ave, Oneonta, NY 13820, USA

Lat/Long

42.453918, -75.050307

Grant Recipient

Greater Oneonta Historical Society

In 1900, the Ulster & Delaware Railroad built a new depot in Oneonta, New York. The railroad stretched from Oneonta to Kingston in Ulster County, New York, offering freight and passenger service through the Catskill Mountains. Serving as the western terminus of the railroad, the depot in Oneonta opened to the public in September 1900, being described as “neat, bright and convenient” (Oneonta Star, September 13, 1900, 6).

The depot was conveniently located adjacent to Oneonta’s fairgrounds. The railroad provided special train service during Oneonta’s Central New York Fair, a large regional event held in Oneonta from 1873 to 1926. During the fair, the railroad sold special round trip tickets which included the price of admission to the fair. The September 20, 1906 Oneonta Daily Star reported that the U&D special train service brought in 2,000 people on the third day of the fair that year. 1926 marked the last year of Oneonta’s Central New York Fair, with the fairgrounds later becoming Belmont Circle and Hudson Street.

In 1954, passenger service ceased at U&D Depot. In 1972, the depot was repurposed as a restaurant and tavern. As of 2026, it remains in operation as the Depot Restaurant.