User:Pi.1415926535/East Brookfield depot

East Brookfield is a former station of the Boston and Albany Railroad that existed from 1841 until its destruction by fire in 2010. Constructed in the style of architect Henry Hobson Richardson, it was one of thirteen remaining structures built in his style, of the original thirty two built, at the time of its destruction. It is located along the Boston Subdivision of the CSX line.

Western Railroad
The original station was built by the Western Railroad in 1841. The station helped to spur development within the town, as buildings started to be constructed between the tracks and Lake Lashaway to the north. In 1876, the Boston and Albany Railroad built a line to nearby North Brookfield.

Around this time, the railroad also built a freight house across from the tracks.

H.H. Richardson design
A replacement structure was built between 1893 and 1894 at a cost of $ (equivalent to $ in today's dollars), It was constructed by the Norcross Brothers, who worked with Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge for the design, based on drawings that Henry Hobson Richardson had done before his death. It was modeled after the Brookline Hills station, and allowed for savings in the design process.

The building was built in the style of Henry Hobson Richardson. Constructed in a rectangular plan, with one end being rounded. The hipped roof was clad in slate, with overhanging eaves. The structure was built with trimmed brownstone from the Kibbe Quarry in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, as well as granite for much of the structure. Above the ticket office, a single eyelid dormer was constructed, and the structure also contained a chimney.

The last train to use the station was on March 30, 1960 at 7:45 in the morning. The freight house was torn down by Conrail in 1984.

Preservation attempts


Following the closure of the station in 1960, the structure fell into disrepair. A 2000 assessment by the Massachusetts Historical Commission noted that the while the building's stone exterior was in good condition, the wood trim was starting to show signs of wear. Furthermore, copper gutters had been lost over the years. A 2008 assessment by the state noted that there was evidence of roof repair on the west side of the structure, but residents said that it had always looked that way. CSX was also willing to sell the building to the town, but a lack of funds by residents hampered any attempts to do so. It was also recommended at this time that the town explore having the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2002, the structure was identified by Preservation Massachusetts as an endangered structure.

Structural loss
On September 18, 2010, the building was destroyed in a fire of unknown origin. Trains were stopped on the line for about an hour, while crews fought the flames. Mutual aid was brought in from nearby Brookfield, while Spencer's fire department covered both town's fire station's.