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Pavonia Terminal: Erie's Jersey City Station

Published: January 31, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Situated within the bustling landscape of Jersey City within the Harsimus area, Erie Railroad's Pavonia Terminal served as a critical nexus for transportation and commerce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Opened on May 1, 1861, it ceased operations in 1958 when the Erie consolidated its passenger services to the nearby Hoboken Terminal. Pavonia also facilitated commuter trains operated by the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway and was accessible via various streetcars, ferries, and the underground Hudson & Manhattan Railroad.

Following its abandonment, the structure was demolished in 1961, and the location was transformed into the Newport district in the late 20th century.

Pavonia was among five notable passenger terminals that stretched along the western bank of the Hudson Waterfront which also included Weehawken, Hoboken, Exchange Place, and Communipaw. Of these, Hoboken is the sole terminal still in operation.

As a testament to the age of railroads, Pavonia Terminal's history encapsulates the rapid advancement and eventual decline of railroad hegemony in the United States.

Erie's yard in Jersey City from 1938. Al Aumuller photo/Library of Congress collection.

Origins and Construction

The inception of Pavonia Terminal can be traced back to the burgeoning need for a centralized transportation hub in the mid-19th century. As New York City's commercial importance grew, so did the demand for improved transportation links.

The Erie Railroad, chartered in 1832 and initially opened in 1841, emerged to address these needs, primarily servicing the New York State's Southern Tier and Northern Pennsylvania before aspiring to establish a presence in the metropolitan area.

The Erie initially began developing the waterfront site in 1856, culminating in the opening of the intermodal complex on December 4, 1887.

Spanning its river-facing façade was the designation "New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad," the company's official title at that time, although it was commonly referred to as either the Jersey City Terminal or simply Erie Railroad Station.

The colloquial moniker is derived from the 17th-century European settlement of Pavonia in New Netherland, which originated in the vicinity and was serviced by a ferry bearing the same name.  Both long-distance and suburban passenger trains accessed the terminal by traversing through Bergen Hill via the Long Dock Tunnel and later the Bergen Arches.

Architectural Design and Features

Pavonia Terminal’s architectural design - conceived by George E. Archer - was emblematic of the grandiose style typical of 19th-century passenger stations. 

It has been characterized as "a vividly colored Victorian eclectic three-story terminal strategically situated at the terminus of Pavonia Avenue, designed to accommodate a station with twelve tracks."

The train shed was an architectural marvel, incorporating a vast arching roof that provided cover while allowing natural light to penetrate the interior space.

Alongside its railroad platforms, Pavonia featured ferry slips that facilitated passenger and freight movement across the Hudson to Manhattan, reflecting the intermodal transportation foresight underpinning its design.

In addition to passenger service, the complex was a hub for ferries, streetcars, and the rapid transit system of the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (currently PATH).

Operational Peak and Economic Impact

The pinnacle of Pavonia Terminal’s operation spanned the late 19th century through the early 20th century, during which it served as a vital artery for the transportation of goods and commuters.

Following the Erie's extension into Chicago in 1883, the terminal functioned as a crucial conduit for livestock, crops, and manufactured goods from the Midwest to the burgeoning markets of New York City and beyond.

For passengers, Pavonia was a gateway to numerous destinations, as trains connected the urban populace with suburban locales and rural hinterlands. This expanded the scope of commerce, commuting, and tourism, making long-distance travel increasingly accessible for ordinary Americans.

Several prestigious named trains had their origins at the station, many of them covering long distances. Among these were the Atlantic Express, Erie Limited, Lake Cities, Midlander, Mountain Express, Pacific Express, and Southern Tier Express.

Decline and Obsolescence

With the advent of the automobile and the rapid expansion of road networks during the mid-20th century, railroads across America faced declining passenger numbers and freight revenues.

Pavonia was no exception to these trends. The increased convenience and affordability of personal vehicles, coupled with the growing airline industry, eroded the dominance of rail travel.

The declining trend was further exacerbated by urban planning developments that shifted preferences away from ferry-based transportation solutions. In addition, with the Erie and Delaware, Lackawanna & Western planning a merger (completed in 1960) the former elected to utilize the latter's terminal in nearby Hoboken.  The last train to leave the station, the #1205 at 6:35 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 1958.

Legacy

By the latter half of the 20th century, Pavonia Terminal fell into disuse, eventually demolished in 1961 to pave the way for modern development along the Jersey City waterfront.

Despite its physical disappearance, the legacy of Pavonia Terminal is preserved in the annals of transportation history as a symbol of the transformative and enduring impact of America's railroad era.

Today, the site of the former terminal is a part of the revitalized Newport Center in Jersey City, reflecting the ongoing evolution of urban landscapes. Further, the spirit of connectivity and accessibility exemplified by Pavonia's operations remains pertinent as contemporary transit systems strive to integrate multiple modes of transportation.

Despite the terminal's loss, several former Erie branches in the region still play host to commuter trains today.  The New Jersey Transit Main Line, for instance, continues part of the route up to Suffern, New York, and extends to Port Jervis under a contract with Metro North.

Additionally, segments of the present-day Bergen County Line and Pascack Valley Line were originally under Erie operation. The former Greenwood Lake Branch has been integrated into the Montclair-Boonton Line.

Another notable remnant is the Northern Branch of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, which currently serves freight transportation and is a candidate for future light rail service.

The Newark Branch, which extended service to Paterson, along with the Orange Branch, were also part of the Erie Railroad’s suburban infrastructure. The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway's main line stretched to Wilkes-Barre, although it only offered passenger service to this endpoint briefly.

By 1939, the Wilkes-Barre and Eastern line was fully abandoned, with freight services discontinued as well, while regular commuter routes operated to Butler, NJ, until ceasing in 1966.