Rowe Street station
| Company type | Railway station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Orchard Street station, Bloomfield station |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Defunct | 2002-10-20 |
| Headquarters | Bloomfield, New Jersey , United States |
| Owner | Erie Railroad (1955–1983), New Jersey Transit (1983–2002) |
Rowe Street is a defunct railway station located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. It served as a stop along the Montclair-Boonton Line, which operates between Hoboken Terminal and Hackettstown. Constructed by the Erie Railroad in 1955, this station was established to replace the former Orchard Street and Bloomfield stations, both of which were dismantled to accommodate the construction of the Garden State Parkway. The facility consisted of a one-story brick depot accompanied by a parking area with 26 spaces, built at a cost of $23,000 (1955 USD).
The station remained operational for 47 years until its closure by New Jersey Transit—who assumed control in 1983—on October 20, 2002. Rowe Street was closed simultaneously with nearby stops Benson Street and Arlington as part of the Montclair Connection initiative that formed the current Montclair-Boonton Line.
Orchard Street station
In 1891, a proposal was made to establish a new depot at Orchard Street along the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway, under Erie Railroad ownership. The Erie Railroad committed to providing an agent to staff the station. On March 23, 1892, a fundraising event raised $127 toward the $4,000 required to acquire the land at Orchard, Smith, and Baylis Streets for the station.
Although the depot was completed by August 13, 1892, it initially remained closed due to the absence of an agent. Subsequently, on September 1, William H. Flood was appointed as ticket agent, enabling ticket sales soon afterward. The new facility quickly became a valuable asset for commuters and contributed to accelerated development in the surrounding area.
Closure
The opening of the Montclair Connection on September 20, 2002, resulted in the shutdown of three stations on the Boonton Line. Presently, both platforms and a staircase leading to Rowe Street still exist.