A press release from the Connecticut Department of Transportation; April 6, 2020:
The New Haven, Conn., Union Station celebrated its 100th anniversary, with local and state public officials commemorating the station’s opening.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designed by American architect Cass Gilbert, Union Station opened on April 5, 1920, with its ornate ceilings, elegant chandeliers, a grand clock suspended from the ceiling and long oak benches in the cavernous waiting room illuminated by high, arched windows.
“Union Station is as alive today as it was a hundred years ago, and few stations in the country are as magnificent as this one,” said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. “Most of the time, we are rushing through the station to make a train. It is wonderful to take a moment to admire and appreciate this great edifice.”
Connecticut Gov. Lamont and other officials also praised the hard work and dedication of transit workers on the front lines and behind the scenes, as Connecticut works through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“While in this midst of this unprecedented crisis, it’s important to take a moment to step back and think about our history,” said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. “Today, we are not just celebrating the 100th anniversary of Union Station. We are celebrating the important place this building holds in the history and life of New Haven. It is among the busiest rail facilities in the state of Connecticut on one of the busiest rail lines in the United States – transporting more than 125,000 passengers on weekdays and 40 million a year, and generating nearly $50 million of revenue into our local economy each year. Union Station is so much more than a building, it is a gateway to our great city and a centerpiece of its evolution in the century to come.”
When the pandemic has subsided, officials say they are planning a more celebratory event at the station to mark the station’s anniversary. That will include the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the station’s centennial. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 12,000 commuters and other travelers used the station each day.
“New Haven’s Union Station is one of Connecticut’s architectural jewels,” said Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz. “Its rich history and its ability to continue providing reliable service to millions of people–both local commuters and visitors from around the globe—is what makes Union Station a true treasure. As we proudly celebrate its centennial, we also thank the transit workers across our state for their dedicated service.”
Union Station connects the New Haven Line running into New York City, the Hartford Line heading north to Hartford and Springfield and Shoreline East, which goes east to New London. It is also one of the key links on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, from Boston to Washington and points beyond.
“A railroad station connects us and keeps us moving forward,” said Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti. “This one tells a story. It is the story of a railroad system that has come through New Haven for more than 150 years. For the last 100 years, Union Station has been a familiar, welcoming junction where literally millions of people have embarked on journeys and come home again.”