About Us

The Maywood Station Historical Committee (MSHC) division of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society operates the Maywood Station Museum and is chartered as a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 non-profit, educational and historical organization with a mission to preserve our railroad and cultural heritage through preservation and awareness, archiving and interpretation, museum open houses, meetings and special events.

The MSHC was formed on May 29, 2002 by volunteers who wished to save the 1872-built New York, Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) railroad station at 269 Maywood Avenue, Maywood, New Jersey after it became public that the Borough of Maywood had signed a demolition order against the historic building. The last regular NYS&W passenger trains ceased in 1966 and the tracks in front of the station have been freight-only ever since. The station had languished from years of disrepair since it was last used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a meeting hall in the early 1990's. Over the next decade, the NYS&W made numerous attempts to lease the station but the town and railroad could not come to an agreement on its final use.

On June 5, 2002, the MSHC entered into an agreement with the NYS&W for the proposed restoration of the station and use as a meeting place for the group as well as museum featuring local railroad and town history with emphasis on how the Borough of Maywood developed around the station. On June 14, 2002, the MSHC received a Certification of Eligibility on the station for placement on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. This certification was obtained only 10 days after it was applied for by the MSHC. The station was identified as one of the oldest existing in the State of New Jersey still retaining most of its original character.

As news spread of the proposed restoration in the press, several railroad historical societies contacted the MSHC offering assistance. On June 20, 2002, the MSHC elected to become a division of the tax-exempt 501(c)3, non-profit, New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society, Inc. (NYS&WT&HS). Almost immediately, the MSHC began fundraising initiatives by conducting an engraved brick drive and sought out other donation possibilities. By early July 2002, a long-term lease on the station was struck with the NYS&W. Simultaneously; the MSHC began the restoration project with weekly work sessions.

On August 4, 2002, the MSHC submitted an application for permanent placement of the station on the New Jersey and National Historical Registers. On February 18, 2003, Maywood Station was formally nominated onto the New Jersey Register of Historical Places and on May 29, 2003, Maywood Station was formally nominated onto the National Register of Historical Places.

The MSHC's main objectives have been to restore, revitalize and preserve the historic Victorian Style station. Stucco had been applied to the exterior of the station in 1920 and the first order of business when the MSHC commenced work in early July 2002, was to remove the stucco and restore the station to its original board and batten appearance. While removing the stucco, numerous paint samples were discovered including what was thought to be the original New Jersey Midland Railroad (NYS&W predecessor) colors. The MSHC, through the assistance of our architect, Thomas A. Fenniman, had the various paint samples professionally analyzed in a lab and the tests found, indeed, that the New Jersey Midland Railroad paint was still present. The colors were certified and the MSHC obtained correct color matches. The station is now the only restored station on the NYS&W painted in authentic New Jersey Midland Railroad colors inside and out. By late July 2002, the station was stabilized with a new roof applied as well as over 5-tons of stucco removed from the exterior walls and the grounds completely graded. By early October 2002, the exterior of the station was completely sanded and primed and painting had begun. Progress continued through 2003 with a new bay window, fencing, interior and exterior lighting, slate flooring, heating and the original rolling freight platform door installed. An engraved brick walkway around the perimeter of the station has been added and the windows have been reglazed and painted. During the summer of 2003, the MSHC commenced restoration work on the station interior. Original color samples taken from the interior were again tested and the station's interior now features the original 1890's-era Victorian colors while the walls have been completely reworked and finished in a natural wood stain. During early 2004, work was completed on installing the new ADA compliant bathroom. The MSHC restored the station's exterior completely during the spring of 2004 and finished the interior in August 2004. Additional restoration work continued through 2005 and, in 2006, additional handicap accessibility and landscaping improvements were completed.

The Official Grand Opening of the restored station and museum took place on Saturday, September 25, 2004. The station museum features artifacts from railroads in the local region and highlights the station's role in the development of the Borough of Maywood through interpretive displays. The Maywood Station Museum serves as a full-functioning "living history" museum preserving railroad and local history for future generations to enjoy. In November 2004, the Maywood Station Museum was listed as a Historical Archive by the State of New Jersey. In January 2007, the Maywood Station Museum became the official site of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society's archives, which contains 1000's of drawings, maps, track diagrams, photos, timetables, documents and records covering the history of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway. Please click on our Museum Operating Schedule for upcoming dates and times that the station museum will be open to the public. Aside from the normal museum operating schedule, the Maywood Station Museum is also available by appointment for class trips, boys and girls scouts trips, senior citizen trips and for other organizations and clubs as well as for movie and television filming, commercial props, photo shoots, etc. The MSHC also is active in railroad and historical awareness programs and has sponsored children's historical drawing contests, the hugely popular Santa at Maywood Station each December and special events at the station. Please CLICK HERE to see the full article about Santa at Maywood Station that appeared in the December 16, 2007 issue of The Record Newspaper.

In addition to the Maywood Station Restoration Project and Museum, the MSHC has also restored an actual caboose at Maywood Station. The interior of the caboose features additional displays and an operating model train layout. More information can be found on our Caboose 24542 Page. To date, over eight thousand volunteer-man-hours have been spent by MSHC members restoring Maywood Station and transforming it into a museum as well as the restoration work on Caboose 24542. In 2008, a new project involving the restoration of original New York, Susquehanna & Western Alco S-2 diesel locomotive #206 will commence at Maywood Station. Additional information about NYS&W #206 can be found on our NYS&W Alco S-2 #206 Page. 

The membership of the MSHC currently meet at the station two to three times a month. New members are always welcome and it is not a requirement to be a resident of Maywood for membership.  For more information on the Maywood Station Historical Committee, the Maywood Station Museum or about becoming a member, please Contact Us and send us an e-mail or stop by the station during a museum open house.

The volunteer efforts of the MSHC have garnered numerous achievements for the group. The MSHC have been the recipients of the 2008 County of Bergen Historic Preservation Award in Education, the 2006 State of New Jersey Historic Preservation Award, the 2005 County of Bergen Historic Preservation Award in Historic Leadership and the 2004 County of Bergen Historic Preservation Award in Restoration and Preservation. The group has also earned twenty different commendations, proclamations and resolutions from all levels of government including the United States Senate, New Jersey Senate, New Jersey General Assembly, the County of Bergen, the  County of Bergen Board of Chosen Freeholders, the County of Bergen Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and the Borough of Maywood.  In addition, the press continues to cover the Maywood Station restoration and museum in local and regional newspapers, magazines and on television news broadcasts. Please CLICK HERE to see the full article, Restoring the NYS&W's Maywood Station, which appeared in the September 2006 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine and please CLICK HERE to see the article Modeling in 1:1 and 1:160 about Maywood Station and Caboose 24542, which appeared in the March/April 2007 issue of N Scale Railroading Magazine.

The success of the MSHC's restoration and museum has evolved into a "case study" by the historical community for other groups attempting similar projects. The historical community has concluded that the group has restored a station like none other since an exceptional amount of the original structure was reworked and restored as a completely volunteer project. The MSHC has been receiving continual local, county and statewide support for their restoration and museum efforts and its roster is comprised of volunteers from all walks of life working for a common goal. The results have been impressive and prove what can happen when a group unites for a common cause to save a piece of its history and at the same time renews pride in its community.