By Jorge Batlle
Skaneateles Village Historian
The first railroad between Skaneateles village and the newly completed Auburn & Syracuse Railroad at Skaneateles Junction (today’s New York Central Railroad), ran its first trips on Sept. 30, 1840. Trips were made twice daily. The fleet consisted of two small passenger cars and six freight cars. They stabled eight horses that were used as the motive power, similar to that used on the towpaths of the Erie Canal. The first rails were wooden and used from 1840 to about 1845. In 1845 iron rails were introduced. Horse car operation discontinued Aug. 24, 1850.
An attempt at using a steam engine was unsuccessful, when it exploded on Dec. 16, 1846 near Mottville. Owners Perry and Horace Cornell, putting horsepower and stage coaches into service. The Columbian newspaper stated that “By this means our citizens and the traveling public will be subjected to no inconvenience from the stoppage of cars on this road.”
Detailed information on the railroad’s operation, in and out of bankruptcy and inventory of rolling stock and engines can be found in Richard Palmer’s pamphlet “A Railroad Called Skaneateles.”
It has been stated that “the first passenger station stood next to the lake, opposite the Sherwood Inn.” Just where it was is not clear. In 1843, a station was built on Railroad Street (now Fennell Street) The village, in 1866, allowed the station to be built in the right-of-way of Railroad Street, near the intersection with Jordan Street, “as long as the railroad continues to operate.”
The prosperous railroad’s passenger business led to three trains daily each way, peaking at 6 daily trains each way – except on Sunday – in 1900. This was partially due to the railroad having an interest in the lake’s various tour steamboats and the inexpensive fare structure of thirty cents from the Junction to the Village. Newspaper photos show the station platform crowded with ladies and gentlemen in their Sunday best outfits as they either walked or took a carriage over to the lake’s passenger boats. In October of 1898 the newspaper suggested that “a nice location for a fine passenger depot is on the old mill dam, facing Genesee Street, when the Skaneateles Railroad extends its track to the lake. The site is far more commodious than the present depot grounds, and as it belongs to the State. It is thought that permission could be secured to locate it here.”
Competition for the railroad’s passenger business came from the arrival of the Auburn and Syracuse Electric Railroad trolley line in the early 1900s. Also, the steamboat excursion business was sinking. The railroad sold their interest in the boats to their competitor, said to be a very timely and good move. The 1920s, the automobile was becoming popular, a further scuttling the tour excursion business.
In 1932, passenger service to the Junction was ended. Feb. 1940, a petition for abandonment was filed. July 31, 1940 the Skaneateles Railroad made its last run. May 1941, the Skaneateles Short Line Railroad takes over the operations, strictly as a freight carrier.
The depot became the private office of Samuel Kane, former mayor of the village and past president of the railroad. During World War II, the building was used as headquarters of the local ration board, under the direction of Mrs. Walter Cavell. Other suggestions for the building were: a public market, as a private home and moving it to another location, and tearing it down.
Jan. 24, 1947, Dean M. Barber, of State Street, purchased the old depot from Mrs. Samuel Kane, stating plans to convert it into a bakery. Barber was the former operator of Barber’s Lodge, a popular restaurant and tourist home. The Lodge was where Mrs. Jonathan M. Wainwright and her mother stayed during the days her husband, General Wainwright, was fighting the World War II battles in the Philippines on Corregidor and Bataan. Barber later opened a meat processing plant on Jordan Street, that became the Skaneateles-Jordan Lockers part of the former Red & White Supermarket (where Clover’s is now located).
Reactions to making the depot into a bakery were mixed. Some felt that a good bakery was needed. Others felt that the railroad property should be made into a wider street, with sidewalks.
June 25, 1947, the village sent Barber an official notice that the railroad depot “building is in violation of Ordinance #25, and is located in a village thoroughfare. Use of the street it is said, may be desired by the village for the widening of Fennell Street, to give property holders adjacent thereto opportunity to construct sidewalks, should they desire also to give traffic more room…” Mr. Barber took the matter to court, but his complaint was dismissed. Barber was given ten days to remove the depot from the site or forfeit $10 a day for each day of “encroachment.”
November of 1947, Mrs. Samuel Kane reacquired the depot building and turned it over to the village for free. It was reported that Barber walked into the village offices and inquired of Village Clerk, J. McLaughlin, “got the depot off Fennell Street yet? ” Clerk McLaughlin replied ,”guess not.” “Well, you’ve had ten days,” Barber said, grinning and stalked out.
Dec. 12, 1947 – a man from West Newell Street in Camillus was the successful bidder at the auction sale held at the Skaneateles Railroad depot. Bidding began and $500, jumped by $100, then by $50 to the final bid of $925.00. The village board accepted and approved the bid. The Camillus man began immediate operations to dismantle the building.
Today, a blue and yellow roadside marker in front of 6 Fennell St. designates the approximate location of the old depot building.
