'"*""' Jl|N 2 2 1984 1 N.J. Office of Cultural and Environmental Services, 109 W. State Street, Trenton, N.J. 08625 609-292-2023 Prepared by Heritage Studies, Inc. Princeton, N.J. 08540 609-452-1754 RR O7OS- Survey # 4-1 NEW JERSEY TRANSIT RAILROAD STATION SURVEY i, IDENTIFICATION ^ A. Name: Common Ampere ^ <•''"•"• Line: Hoboken Division, Montclair Historic Branch (DL&W) B. Address or, location: E of Ampere ^ /^ r-»r e piaza IfltWiitney Plac€ ^ County: Essex ^ East Orange, NJ ' Municipality: City of East Orange Block & lot: C. Owner's name: NJ Transit Address: Newark, NJ D. Location of legal description: Office of the County Clerk, Essex Co. C. H-. Newark, NJ I. Representation in existing surveys: (give number, category, etc., as appropriate) HABS _____ HAER ____ELRR Improvement___NY&LB Improvement ____ PI a infield Corridor _____NR(name, if HP).__________________ NJSR (name, if HP)_____________________ NJHSI (#) ______________ Northeast Corridor Local ______________________________(date_____________ Modernization Study: site plan X floor plan_X_ _aerial photo other views x photos of NR quality? x_______ 2. EVALUATION A. Determination of eligibility: SHPO comment? __________(date____) NR det.? (date ) B. Potentially eligible for NR: yes_j(_possible __ no __ individual thematic C. Survey Evaluation: 120/110 points 115 -2 RR O7OS- FACILITY NAME: Ampere Survey #4-1 3. DESCRIPTION-COMPLEX IN GENERAL Describe the entire railroad complex at this site; mention all buildings and structures, with notation of which are not historic. Check items which apply and discuss in narrative: _Moved buildings (original location, date of and reason for move) _Any non-railroad uses in complex (military recruiting, etc.) _Any unusual railroad building types, such as crew quarters, etc. (specify) X Known threats to complex or individual structures deterioration Surroundings: X urban __suburban scattered buildings _open space X residential _woodland _agricultural X industrial X downtown commercial __highway commercial _other (specify) Relationship of station grade to track grade: _Station and track grade at same level _Station at'street grade, track depressed _Station spans track X Track elevated above street grade, multi-level station # of tracks: 2 Pedestrian access across tracks: __Pedestrian bridge: _at street grade __elevated _Pedestrian/vehicular bridge: _at street grade _elevated X Tunnel __None provided Discuss character of vehicular and pedestrian approaches to complex; landscaping; relationship to parking. Refer to, and key with, site plan. The Ampere complex consists of a two-story, red brick station in Renaissance Revival style, an attached wood frame and concrete canopy, a similar one-story shelter and canopy, platforms on either side of the tracks, and a concrete tunnel beneath them. The complex is located on a constricted urban site east of Ampere Plaza, extending from Fourth Avenue on the S to Springdale Avenue on the north. Tracks are aligned N-S. Limited parking is available along Ampere Plaza and other neighboring streets. There is a short loop drive to track level just N of the station and numerous stairways for pedestrian use (A-4, B-l, A-3 to the N; A-l, A, B to the S). There is no landscaping. Presently, the buildings are closed and are threatened by deterioration. -3 RR O7Q5- FACILITY NAME: Ampere Survey # 4-1 3. DESCRIPTION-PLATFORMS AND CANOPIES _X_Inbound 946' concrete and asphalt (originally concrete) lined with original lighting fixtures, incandescent with circular metal _Outbound shades mounted on iron poles. Between tracks Nature and extent of existing original material and alterations: roof type, material, supports; freestanding or attached to building; seating; lighting; signage; other. The inbound canopy at Ampere, 19 bays long, is centrally attached to the E facade of the station with 7 bays to the N and 9 to the S. A wood frame hipped roof is supported on a single row of wood beam lintels (with shaped ends) and concrete Tuscan columns with cast iron bases. The soffit consists of matched boards with attached incandescent lighting fixtures, one to a bay. The roof is sheathed in glazed terra cotta tiles, while gutters are copper and leaders, galvanized. All materials appear to be original. -4 RR 07Q5- FACILITY NAME Ampere Survey i 4-1 4. DESCRIPTION - BUILDINGS (EXTERIOR) Fill out separate sheet for each building at facility. Refer to, and key with, site plan. Account for original materials and finishes where different from existing. Station X Shelter ___ Freight House ____ Other ___(specify) General architectural description, including style, shape, roof type, # stories, # bays, orientation to track, location of entrances, etc. The Ampere station, located W of the tracks, consists of a brick 2-story rectangular main block, 3 bays wide and 3 deep,, with a shallow gabled roof, its ridge paralleling the tracks. Prominent gable end copings with notched corners and segmental arch profiles rise above the roof, forming a parapet. Flanking the main block on the N and S are (2) 1-story wings, each with a pent roof. The one on the N is 4 bays wide and 3 deep with the 2 end bays forming a portico supported by concrete Tuscan columns. The S wing, 2 bays wide and 3 deep, is entirely open and is similar to the portico on the N. The W facade of the main block contains a central full-height round-arch concrete door surround, with double doors, flanked on either side at street and track level by sash windows (boarded; segmental arch above, trabeated below). Originally a classically detailed canopy sheltered the door (Taber, 71) The E facade contains a central window flanked on either side by doors with transoms (boarded). The upper N and S facades each contain a single multi- _pane round arch window with sidelights and continuous-transom light (boarded),- while the lower S facade contains a central window flanked by doors. (When the second floor was built, the window appears to have been bricked over and the doors converted to windows. These windows are now boarded). The N wing contains 3 windows on the W facade and 2 windows and a freight door facing the portico (all boarded). The lower E facade abuts a concrete retaining wall. A short rectangular brick chimney rises from the copinq at the N end of the main block. Roofing is glazed terra cotta tile. Most materials appear original. -4A RR O7O5- FACILITY NAME Ampere Survey # 4-1 4. DESCRIPTION - BUILDINGS (EXTERIOR) CONID, Fill out separate sheet for each building at facility. Station X Shelter___Freight House___Other___(specify) EXTERIOR MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS: Original Existing, if different Structural system: bearing wall/frame roof Foundation: poured concrete Base course: coarse aggregate concrete Walls:' brick, Flemish checker (red, vitrified) > cone, sills, lintels, keystones, cop­ Trim: ing, surround (W), Tuscan cols, wood brkts., iron window grills; metal canopy (W) Doors: . 9/2 panel?________________ (boarded) Roofing: glazed terra cotta tile, copper flashing Soffit: matchbds (yarn.)__________ Wi ndows: unknown_______________ (boarded) incan.; torch brackets with globe Lighting: shades flanking main entry______ missing Signage: unknown none Drainage: copper gutters, galv. dnspouts (leaders replaced) • Other: iron pipe rail on stairs (S) -5 RB O7O5- FAGILITY NAME Ampere . Survey # 4-1 4. DESCRIPTION - BUILDINGS (INTERIOR) Fill out separate sheets for each building at facility. Refer to, and key with, floor plan. Station y Shelter____Freight House____Other_____(specify) General architectural description of all spaces, including original materials and finishes, if known, any remodeling, etc. NOT ACCESSIBLE » 7 -3 RR O7O5- FACILITY NAME: Ampere Survey # 4-1 3. DESCRIPTION-PLATFORMS AND CANOPIES __Inbound _XOutbound 824' concrete and asphalt (originally concrete), lined with original lighting fixtures, incandescant with circular metal __Between tracks shades mounted on iron poles. Nature and extent of existing original material and alterations: roof type, material, supports; freestanding or attached to building; seating; lighting; signage; other. The outbound canopy is similar to the inbound. Eleven bays long, it is centrally attached to the W facade of the shelter. Its wood frame hipped roof is supported on a single row of wood beam lintels (with shaped ends) and concrete Tuscan columns set in cast iron bases. The soffit consists of matched boards with attached incandescant lighting fixtures, one to a bay. The roof is sheathed in glazed terra cotta tiles, while gutters are copper and leaders, galvanized. All materials appear to be original. -4 8 FACILITY NAME Ampere Survey r f7i°5 " 4. DESCRIPTION - BUILDINGS (EXTERIOR) Fill out separate sheet for each building at facility. Refer to, and key with, site plan. Account for original materials and finishes where different from existing. Station ___Shelter x Freight House ____ Other ___(specify) General architectural description, including style, shape, roof type, # stories, # bays, orientation to track, location of entrances, etc. The shelter at Ampere, located E of the tracks, consists of a brick 1-story rectangular block with a concrete foundation and a hipped roof, its ridge paralleling the tracks. The W-facade contains (N to S) (2) windows, a door, and another window, while the E facade contains(4) windows (all boarded). The N and S facades are blank. Roofing ts glazed terra eotta trie. Most materials appear original. -4A 9 BR O7O5- FACILITY NAME Ampere Survey #4-1 4. DESCRIPTION - BUILDINGS (EXTERIOR) OWID. Fill out separate