On a recent road trip, I visited two stations in Massachusetts. The first was Worcester's Union Station. As most of you know, this elegant building in downtown Worcester was seriously derelict for many years before being thoroughly and perfectly restored recently. It is clean, light and a complete upper for anyone interested in historic preservation. The only misgiving I had was the relative lack of activity and the underutilized potential for commercial use. In short, it didn't seem to be pulling it's weight economically. How long that can last is anyone's guess.
The second station has a darker side. The Boston and Albany/Central Vermont station in Palmer, MA was designed by H.H.Richardson, one of the most famous and influential architects in the 19th Century U.S. It still stands in a forgotten corner of this rather out of the way town east of Springfield. It is easily accesible to the pubic since it houses an incredible assortment of junk, all of it for sale, masquerading as antiques, hardware and collectables. The builing is evidently restorable and best of all, not too torn up inside. Why this prime example of it's type isn't better known and under restoration is a mystery to me. For pictures from a better time, see Robert Willoughby Jones' books on the Boston and Albany and Vemont (CV) railroads. I highly recommend a visit.

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