Fusco Engineering & Land Surveying is leading a revitalization of the iconic New York, Ontario & Western Railway’s railroad station in Middletown, New York, preserving the building’s 130-year-old architectural accents and façade while modernizing and customizing it for use as a daycare center.
Fusco CEO Alfred A. Fusco Jr., P.E., who served as the city of Middletown’s commissioner of public works for 25 years, was instrumental in saving the once-abandoned building from demolition. He helped secure funding in federal and state grants and historic preservation tax credits, and more recently has managed teams shoring up the structure in preparation for construction. The stabilization process included remediating asbestos, identifying historically significant aspects for preservation, hiring an architect and coordinating construction specifications and progress to ensure the building is to bid by April 30, 2026, as mandated by the grants. The entire project was advertised for bid on April 30, 2025.
“I am proud and gratified that the architectural marvel that is the O&W Train Station will live on for generations as a mighty symbol of Middletown’s history and a beacon for its exciting future,” Fusco said, noting that his grandfather worked for O&W.
The Regional Economic Community Action Program, known as RECAP, will call the building home and operate a daycare center for 222 children. RECAP empowers people and communities challenged by poverty, racism and social injustice by collaborating with public and private partners to provide high-quality health and human services, education, advocacy and hope. The former railroad depot will feature 10 classrooms, an indoor multipurpose room and an outdoor age-appropriate playground encompassing 7,200 square feet. The original O&W property was augmented through the purchase of an adjoining property that will be used for parking.
Fusco led extensive efforts to preserve the signature character of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. They include cleansing, preserving and reusing original bricks, keeping the interior arches and woodwork and using ornamental wood designs in the building as stencils to craft modern replacements. Finials, long a recognizable feature on the roof, will be recreated out of copper. The well-known historic clock at the main entrance, featuring the O&W logo, will be meticulously replicated. Elevators will be installed and RECAP classrooms will feature child-appropriate décor and artwork.
The castle-like architectural marvel, long known as the O&W Station and as a symbol of Middletown’s vitality, was a 25,000-square-foot bustling transportation hub that fueled Middletown’s growth during an era when railroads were king. It was built on Low Avenue in the 1890s and thrived for decades until the railway went bankrupt in the 1950s. The stately depot became a nightclub and offices before falling into disrepair while being vacant for 30 years after a fire. The city of Middletown took ownership after taxes were unpaid and hired Fusco to envision its future.
Fusco Engineering & Land Surveying, based in Middletown, is a civil engineering and land surveying partner with more than 50 years of experience. Its team provides precision, innovation and expertise in land development and design, feasibility studies, municipal consulting engineering, code enforcement and more.
