Peekskill Freight Depot

Infobox nrhp
name = Peekskill Freight Depot
nrhp_type =

---

caption = The building undergoing renovation in 2007
location = 41 S. Water St.
Peekskill, NY
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 17
lat_seconds = 14
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 73
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 48
long_direction = W
area =
built = 19th century
architect =
architecture = Stick, Eastlake
added = October 27, 2004
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 04001207
mpsub =
governing_body = PrivateThe Peekskill Freight Depot, sometimes called the Lincoln Depot, is located at 41 South Water Street in Peekskill, New York in Westchester County.

History

The depot was originally built of wood around 1850 by the New York Central Railroad to handle freight shipments into and out of what was then a busy industrial Hudson River city. At some point in the later years of the century it was remodeled into its present, brick style.Lincoln Society of Peekskill; 2007; [http://www.lincolnsociety.com/LincolnDepotMuseum.html Lincoln Depot Museum] ; retrieved June 17, 2007.] ) It is unclear exactly when, although there are some reports of fires in the 1880s and again in 1898; and blistering of the interior paint at roof level gives evidence that there was one.

On February 19, 1861, Abraham Lincoln stopped here during his train trip to his inauguration and gave a brief speech at the invitation of local congressman William Nelson, who introduced him. Contemporary newspaper accounts suggest that approximately 1500 people were present, equivalent to about half the population of Peekskill at that time, to hear his brief request for their support in the coming crisis (four states had already seceded by then). It was his only recorded appearance in Westchester County.

Peekskill has embraced Lincoln's appearance as a celebrated part of its history. A memorial stone, the Lincoln Exedra, was erected on South Street, overlooking the depot, in 1925. The speech was commemorated vigorously at its 50th anniversary in 1911, and again on its centennial in 1961. The latter occasion featured a re-enactment of the speech, with actors dressed as Lincoln and Nelson. The Lincoln Society of Peekskill keeps the memory alive and organizes other activities related to its namesake.

The railroad no longer exists, and the building fell vacant as Peekskill's industrial base declined to the point that freight shipments were no longer made (the line itself is now the Metro-North Hudson commuter line, handling almost exclusively passenger traffic). In 2004, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and it is currently being restored for possible use as a museum devoted to Lincoln's appearance with help from New York's Office of Historic Preservation.

References

External links

* [http://www.lincolnsociety.com Lincoln Society in Peekskill]