Landmarks in peril: Noxen train depot

The old train depot in Noxen was listed recently as an endangered historic property, but that could be a good thing.

Paul Lumia, executive director of the North Branch Land Trust, is hopeful the structure can be rehabilitated and believes the at-risk listing will bring attention to the plight of the station.

“It’s definitely beneficial (being on the list) because from that, we’re hoping to get some donations or manpower help,” Lumia said.

The former Lehigh Valley Railroad Depot, which stands along state Route 3002 (Stull Road) and Bowman’s Creek, is among 10 statewide endangered resources noted in ‘Pennsylvania At Risk,’ an annual list released recently that was compiled by the non-profit group, Preservation Pennsylvania.

via Landmarks in peril: Noxen train depot gains dubious distinction as one of Pennsylvania’s most ‘at risk’ historic properties – Arts & Living – Citizens Voice.

Additional Information:

• Lehigh Valley Railroad Historical Society

Update: February 2026

From “Endangered” to Enduring: An Update on the Noxen Depot

In a post I shared back in February 2012, I opened with a line that seemed almost contradictory at the time: “The old train depot in Noxen was listed recently as an endangered historic property, but that could be a good thing.” Fourteen years later, I am happy to report that it was, indeed, a very good thing.

The 1893 Lehigh Valley Railroad Depot in Noxen had reached a breaking point. Decades of mountain winters had taken their toll on the structure, and its naming to the “Pennsylvania At Risk” list by Preservation Pennsylvania was a final “S.O.S.” for this piece of our railroad heritage. But that “endangered” status provided exactly what the depot needed: a spotlight.

The Turning Point

That listing triggered a surge of local pride and practical support. It opened the door for a critical $18,000 grant from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, which allowed for the initial stabilization of the building. More importantly, it brought together the North Branch Land Trust and dedicated local advocates who refused to let this gateway to the Endless Mountains disappear.

The Legacy Today

Today, the Noxen Depot serves as a reminder that our architectural history is worth the fight. It stands not as a ruin, but as a landmark. For those of us exploring the Back Mountain Trail or tracing the old coal routes through Wyoming County, the depot remains a physical link to the 19th-century spirit of expansion we’ve been discussing in our God’s Frontiersmen series.

It is proof that when we label something as “at risk,” we aren’t just mourning its potential loss—we are making a commitment to its future.

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Editor’s Note:

“Looking back at my 2012 archives, it’s a rare joy to see a ‘Mountain Dream’ that actually came true. The Noxen Depot stands today as a testament to what happens when a community decides that its past is an essential part of its future.”