Woonsocket station

{{Short description|Former railroad station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox station |name=Woonsocket |style= New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad |image=Woonsocket Depot from the southwest, February 2016.JPG |caption=Woonsocket station in February 2016 |coordinates={{coord|42.003460|-71.513301|type:railwaystation_region:US-RI|display=inline,title}} |address=1 Depot Square<br />Woonsocket, Rhode Island |line=Providence and Worcester Railroad |opened=1847 |rebuilt=1882 |closed=1960 |opening= |other_services_header=Former services |other_services={{Adjacent stations|system=NYNH&H|line1=Providence and Worcester Railroad|left1=Blackstone|right1=Manville}} }}

'''Woonsocket station''' is a former railroad station located at Depot Square in downtown Woonsocket, Rhode Island. It was built by the Providence and Worcester Railroad in 1882 to replace a previous station built in 1847.

==History== thumb|left|Woonsocket Depot on a 1923 postcard

=== Hachiko === {{See also|Hachikō#Bronze statues}} Depot Square was the central filming location for ''Hachi: A Dog's Tale'' in 2009. A statue of the dog, Hachikō, was installed in front of the station in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/33728 |title=Woonsocket, Rhode Island: Statue of Hachiko, Faithful Dog |publisher=Roadside America |date=2 June 2012 |accessdate=3 March 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Woonsocket Depot, June 2014.jpg|thumb|left|Woonsocket Depot in 2014, showing the statue of Hachikō.]]

=== Renovation and proposed return of rail service === The building was renovated by William (Bill) Dogan and was the headquarters for Develco a (now defunct) real estate development company during the 1970s who was responsible for building Lincoln Mall and the Marquette building in Woonsocket, R.I.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

The building served as the headquarters for the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council organizes a Polar Express excursion each year which operates from Woonsocket Depot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackstonevalleypolarexpress.com/ |title=The Polar Express Train Ride |publisher=Blackstone Valley Tourism Council USA |accessdate=3 March 2016}}</ref>

In February 2016, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation leased the depot to the Boston Surface Railroad (BSRC) to be used by the company for commuter service between Providence, Rhode Island and Worcester, Massachusetts.<ref name="theCall1">{{cite news | url=http://www.woonsocketcall.com/news/state-to-lease-depot-square-to-company-proposing-commuter-rail/article_86a5ec1e-ca30-11e5-8cec-63018f102d4a.html | title=State to lease Depot Square to company proposing commuter rail |author=Olivo, Russ| newspaper=The Call | date=2 February 2016 | accessdate=3 February 2016}}</ref> Later, the depot was designated as the headquarters for the BSRC. The BSRC planned to build a high-level platform on the western side of the station for accessible level boarding.<ref name="TDB1">{{cite web | url=http://www.valleybreeze.com/2016-04-20/woonsocket-north-smithfield/woonsocket-track-new-train-service#.VyBWfXAQlVk | title=Woonsocket on track for new train service |author=Seoane, Sandy| publisher=The Valley Breeze | date=April 20, 2016}}</ref> The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor office was relocated from the depot to a mill in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.<ref name="TDB1"/>

RIDOT filed for eviction of the BSRC in April 2019 over unpaid rent. After a legal battle and settlement, the company agreed in December 2020 to vacate the building in January 2021. The BSRC also planned to build a station in nearby Lincoln or Blackstone instead.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.valleybreeze.com/2020-12-09/woonsocket-north-smithfield/train-company-leave-woonsocket-depot-january |title=Train company to leave Woonsocket Depot in January |date=December 9, 2020 |first=Lauren |last=Clem |newspaper=Valley Breeze |accessdate=December 10, 2020}}</ref> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://sites.google.com/site/rhodeislandrailroads/home/east-providence-south-of-india-point/east-providence-north-of-india-point/pw-b-route/valley-falls/woonsocket Woonsocket railroad history]

Category:Buildings and structures in Woonsocket, Rhode Island Category:Dog monuments Category:Railway stations in Rhode Island Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1847 Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1882 Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Providence County, Rhode Island Category:1847 establishments in Rhode Island Category:Former New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad stations Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1941 Category:Hachikō