Canaan Union Depot

The Canaan Union Station opened in 1872 in North Canaan, CT as a railroad station with passenger service. Until 1971, it was the oldest station in continuous operation in the country. The next year in 1972 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The freight service continued until 1974. It serviced two railroads, the Housatonic Railroad, north to south, and the Connecticut Western Railroad, east to west. In 2001, an arson by juveniles burned down half the building and was rebuilt and reopened in 2018 with the Great Falls Brewing Company on the east side and a museum on the north side.

North Canaan, CT, sits in the northwestern corner of Connecticut, tucked between New York state and Massachusetts. North Canaan had recently been established in 1858 when the railroad began, separating from Canaan, commonly called Falls Village. Sitting in the middle of both Boston and New York City, two and a half hours from each, North Canaan’s main routes are U.S. Route 7, running north-south past Pittsfield, MA and Danbury, CT, and U.S. Route 44, east-west, through Poughkeepsie, NY and capital city Hartford, CT. North Canaan’s location benefited the railroad service as it connected New York City, the coal fields in Pennsylvania, and factories around New England.

The Canaan Union Depot was opened in 1872, sitting on both the Housatonic Railroad and the Connecticut Western Railroad. It was nearly a right-angle shaped building, making it convenient to serve both tracks. When passing on the main street, the back side of the building is seen. It had a three-story lookout tower that helped railroad telegraph operators have a clear view down both tracks. Each wing of the building was 90 feet long, each dedicated to the corresponding railroads. Rounded arched windows surrounded the building and wooden brackets supported the roof, along with the track side canopies. A restaurant was on the second floor that satisfied the guests before there were dining cars. Passenger trains ran until 1971, and freight service until 1974. In 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Housatonic Railroad started in 1836, running from Bridgeport along the Housatonic River Valley, and finally reaching the state line in 1842. 1892, it’s 175 miles and 60 passenger depots were acquired by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. In 1971, its passenger service ended. Most of the Housatonic track was rail banked in 1980 until 1983 when the line from North Canaan to New Milford was reopened as a short track using the same name. The railroad then expanded to Pittsfield, MA in 1991 and again in 1992, including the line from Derby, CT to Beacon, NY that remains today.

The Connecticut Western Railroad started in 1868 and ran from both Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA, west across the Hudson River. In 1899 it became the Central New England Railway and again changed in 1927 to be acquired by the New Haven Railroad. Soon later, most of the Connecticut Western was abandoned in the 1930’s.

The Canaan Union Depot was reopened later where it was home to a new restaurant, a café, and a retail center. On October 13, 2001, an arson burned down more than half the building. After years of funding issues, it was rebuilt and reopened in December 2018 as the Great Falls Brewing Company, accompanied by a museum in the northern wing. Today, the Housatonic Railroad consists of the Berkshire Line and the Maybrook Line, and transports supplies 161 miles from local businesses like Becton Dickenson and Plaskolite. Recently, after 50 years, a new passenger service has been proposed, that would run from Pittsfield, MA to Danbury, CT and connect at the Metro-North station, Southeast in New York that ends at Grand Central Station.

Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.canaanunionstation.com/p/history.html.

Cohen, Jeffery. A Fire Burns Old Station and Hits a Town's Heart, New York Times. November 25th 2001. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/nyregion/the-view-from-north-canaan-fire-burns-old-station-and-hits-a-town-s-heart.html. 

Cowgill, Terry. Railroad enthusiasts meet in Connecticut to urge restoration of passenger service from NYC to Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge. July 20th 2021. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://theberkshireedge.com/railroad-enthusiasts-meet-in-connecticut-to-urge-restoration-of-passenger-service-from-nyc-to-berkshires/.

Epstein, Ruth. Canaan's historic train station up for sale, Republican-American. December 28th 2020. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2020/12/28/canaans-historic-train-station-up-for-sale/.

Epstein, Ruth. Sale of Canaan Union Station met with concerns, Republican-American. March 23rd 2021. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.rep-am.com/local/localnews/2021/03/23/sale-of-canaan-union-station-met-with-concerns/.

Great Falls Brewing Company. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.greatfallsbrews.com/about.

Higgins, Jonathan. Canaan Union Station, CT, Train Aficionado. December 29th 2016. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.trainaficionado.com/canaan/.

National Park Service. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/SearchResults/651cfd2749ac490089bdf9b07567a765?page=7&view=list&sort=default.

The rebirth of a train station: Canaan, I Ride the Harlem Line. April 15th 2011. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2011/04/15/the-rebirth-of-a-train-station-canaan/.

Torsiello, John. The Canaan Depot, Main Street Magazine. May 1st 2018. Accessed December 13th 2021. https://mainstreetmag.com/the-canaan-depot/.