Stirling

History

Opening and construction (1872–1877)

Stirling station was designed by architect Herbert Gray Torrey in 1877, with a 24-by-50-foot (7.3 m × 15.2 m) wooden frame design for the total of $1,375. The station also had a freight house and a greenhouse nearby. Torrey paid for the construction of the depot himself due to the railroad being short of finances.

Station demolition and replacement (1968–1974)

The Passaic Valley Chamber of Commerce proposed a study in January 1968 that would discuss what to do with the stations at Stirling, Gillette and Millington in the future. Locals felt that the railroad had done little in terms of upkeep at the Passaic Township stations, with members of the Boy Scouts looking at cleaning Millington station and the Jaycees painting and rehabilitating the depot at Gillette. The study eviscerated the conditions at Stirling station, which was in decrepit shape since the Erie Lackawanna abandoned the depot and the parking lot was a mess. The railroad felt that the railroad should be the ones required to do work the upkeep work on the three stations rather than local nonprofit groups. The Chamber of Commerce reiterated their efforts at the Passaic Township Committee in April 1968, releasing a four-page letter to the administration about what should happen at each of the township train stations. Their recommendation would be that the station depot at Stirling should be removed the property for being an "eyesore". They added their note that parking at all three stations should be upgraded, with 18 percent of the municipality's residents using the railroad for various purposes.

At a conference meeting in Passaic Township on April 15, the township noted that they had no money available for rehabilitation of the three stations. One of the local committeemen noted that he had talked with a colleague with Morris County who recommended that the municipality should look at alternatives to demolishing Stirling station. He added that the Erie Lackawanna Railroad might be able to offer $2,000 for repair work at the depot along with the township, with nonprofit organizations contributing another $1,000 towards rehabilitation. The committee stated that they would talk with the railroad, but that the cost to demolish the depot would be $250 with $1,700 for a new station shelter to replace the old structure. Passaic Township officials also convened with a local builder who stated the costs for rehabilitation would be worth more than demolition and replacement, but they did not specify how much it would cost.

In response to the township's requests to work on the station, the railroad told the municipality in October 1968 that the Erie Lackawanna Railroad planned to demolish the depot at Stirling. However, with the station serving as the headquarters of a section gang, the demolition would be held off until the railroad could relocate all the equipment and the people stationed to it. Railroad officials did not look favorably towards the Chamber of Commerce and their recommendation of volunteer help in help of erection of a new shelter for passengers to beautify the structure.

Proposed renovations (2021–present)

Victor Verlezza, a local official in Long Hill Township, stated that he had interest in revitalizing the Stirling area as part of his election campaign. On November 9, 2021, Verlezza held a tour of the Stirling station with State Senator-elect Jon Bramnick, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz and Assemblywoman-elect Michele Matsikoudis to interest them in his revitalization campaign. Verlezza saw the stations at Summit and Westfield as models for what he wanted at Stirling. He felt upgrading the train station would be a step in achieving the goal. He added that the 1974 station shelter had been suffering from neglect and the growth of vegetation. The three politicians stated that they would talk to NJ Transit to see if they had money to upgrade Stirling station and if not, talk to other politicians about acquiring some money.

Verlezza and Deputy Mayor Guy Pierschia had a meeting with NJ Transit officials in April 2022 to offer proposals to the agency for an upgraded station at Stirling. Verlezza himself visited the Towaco station in Montville to look at it as a station and community to use as a model for Stirling. He added that the railroad would fund the project and that the municipality wanted significant upgrades, not just small incremental ones. He added that any renovations would likely cost $20 million just to have the station become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. He added that the municipality was planning to add street lights on Main Avenue from Valley Road (County Route 512) to the Stirling station, extending from their current end at Railroad Avenue. Verlezza noted that he was looking for a clock to put at the station to help get people's attention at the station.

In December 2023, Verlezza noted that some funding for renovations to Stirling station was expected in the state budget for 2024. These upgrades would involve what would be allowed without requiring Americans with Disabilities Act-required designs. The original plan was to demolish the 1974 station shelter and build a new one but that would be held and upgrades would work around the structure. Bramnick stated that his staff was working on getting funding to be put in the budget for Stirling. He added that they were looking at upgrading Turtle Rock Park as part of the work in making Stirling a more appealing destination. By February 2024, the station shelter had become the home of a bee nest, the sidewalk was cracking with the growth of weeds and the guardrails were rusting. Verlezza asked for Bramnick to get $200,000 for the station upgrades. Verlezza stated that he and Township Administrator Randy Bahr would offer the costs of renovations and what they would entail.

Station layout

The only physical facility at this station is a cinder-block-walled, shingle-roofed bench shelter facing the track. The low-level side platform connects to the bypass track via a walkway over the station track, allowing passengers to access trains on both tracks.