In Vanderbilt Square, with its open-mouthed face fronting Salina Street, the huge gullet of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad station eagerly devoured both passengers and trains alike. A mere shell protecting a double track main line, this is one of the few structures whose architect is known. As designed by Daniel Elliot, a prominent architect and builder, a gallery was provided completely around the inside on the second floor level, which opened into offices and waiting rooms. Built to accomodate thirty to forty patrons, loud must have been the curses of those over that number often crowded into the small, hot, dirty rooms. Originally large doors were provided at eithar end of the structure to be shut behind each incoming train but with the knocking down of an employee and his resultant death, these were removed. Through this historic building passed the body of Lincoln on its way home and here in 1858, 13 locomotives were lined up with whistles blowing to celebrate a successful Atlantic cable.

The feeling of strength which is so necessary to a railroad station is surely evident, with the scale easily computed when it is known that the large central opening was twenty feet high. However, the splendid cupola, duplicated at the other end of the building, first draws our attention. It was probably inspired by some of Lafever's drawings but strongly suggests early Greek tombstones with their pediments and antifixes. The latter are an exceptional feature of refinement not generally found in Syracuse. The Ionic columns appear beautifully rendered, with the entire cupola a masterpiece. The louvres suggest its being used for ventilation. The pediment with its bold mouldings speaks well for itself as do the splendid doorways, the corner pilasters and the beautifully repetitious square columns along the south side (see figure 2). Notice too, the flush clapboards and the fine moulding , just below the frieze which, like the rest of the entablature, is carried completely around the building.

Who would disturb the propensity to admire a civilization which, with a naive imaginative gesture, could convert a Greek temple to a railroad station?

Figures one, two, and three courtesy Onondaga Historical Society