Boston & Albany Railroad Station (Newton)

The Woodland Station is one of two surviving railroad stations in the Boston area designed by American architect Henry Hobson Richardson [Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, H.H. Richardson: Complete Architectural Works, MIT Press, Cambridge MA 1984] . Although he designed numerous stations along the Worchester line (later the Boston & Albany line and today the 'D' line of the MBTA's green line), most of the others have been torn down either due to neglect, fire, or construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Called Woodland station (technically in Auburndale, Massachusetts), it is about 150 yards west of the current Woodland (MBTA station). The station sits on the Woodland golf course and is used as a supply shed. Although the building is part of the Newton Railroad Stations Historic District, it has fallen into disrepair and is in need of extensive renovations and possibly transport to a tourist accessible location. In fact, photographs from as early as 1959 show the station boarded up and abandoned [Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, H.H. Richardson: Complete Architectural Works, MIT Press, Cambridge MA 1984] .

Newton's historic railroad district also contains two Richardson-like stations built after his death by his draftsmen, Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge. These stations are also along the 'D' line at Newton Center and Newton Highlands. The lower portion of these stations act as outdoor stations while the upper, street-face portions are can be rented out. The Newton Highlands station is currently empty and for rent while the Newton Center Station houses a Starbucks (though this Starbucks has been marked for closure recently by the parent company [^ "Coffee Crisis? Starbucks Closing 600 Stores". ABC News (2008-07-01). Retrieved on 2008-07-18.] ). Like a number of Richardson's later works, this railroad station, finished in 1886, was completed after Richardson's death. Although the golf course is private property and members-only, the station is easily visible by riding the 'D' line one stop past Woodland to Riverside.

References

[1] Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, H.H. Richardson: Complete Architectural Works, MIT Press, Cambridge MA 1984