A Look Back at Springfield: Union Station's predecessor

6/15/2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Category: June

From the collection of G. Michael Dobbs

With the grand reopening of Union Station this  month, here is a postcard mailed in 1908 showing  the train station that preceeded it. Until the present Union Station was built in 1926, this station served the transportation needs of the city.

It was built in 1891 and was located on Lyman Street with direct access to the tracks. It was the city’s third train station, but the first located on the east-west grade. The station it replaced was located near the present Paramount  theater block with trains regularly crossing Main Street every day, creating a safety concern.