South Orange Train Station celebrates its centennial

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange Train Station celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. To commemorate this historic occasion, South Orange Village and NJ Transit are hosting a centennial celebration this Saturday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sloan Street in front of the station. Built in 1916 by architect Frank J. Nies, the South Orange Train Station was designed in the Renaissance revival style and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Today, it is the busiest stop on the Morris & Essex Line with more than 4,000 boarders each day.

The 1920s-themed party, where attendees are encouraged to wear period attire, enjoy classic cocktails and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and dance along to live jazz, will include a brief formal ceremony at 7 p.m., with remarks on the history and importance of the South Orange Station by village leaders, NJ Transit executives, state and county elected officials, and others. Residents from South Orange and neighboring communities are encouraged to join in celebrating the heart and lifeblood of South Orange for the last century: this architectural gem of a train station and the rail service that changed South Orange and this region forever.

“NJ TRANSIT is pleased to join the village of South Orange in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the South Orange Train Station,” NJ Transit interim Executive Director Dennis Martin said in a press release. “Since the station opened in 1916, it has experienced significant growth, complementing the vibrancy and attractiveness of the community it serves.”

Village President Sheena Collum echoed Martin’s sentiments.

“The South Orange Train Station truly is the heart and hub of our community,” she said in the release. “By providing quick access to New York City, the station is one of the Village’s greatest assets and is responsible for attracting so many people to move to our special community. Plus, this occasion gave us another reason to have a party — something our town loves to do.”

Tickets for this event can be purchased online at www.sostation100.com or at the door. All ticket sale proceeds will go directly to a newly established “Fund for South Orange Station,” dedicated to improving and beautifying the South Orange Station as it begins its second century of service.

  NJ Transit, South Orange Train Station