File:Point of Rock Original Station.JPG

Summary

This photo, which may date to the 1890s or early 20th Century, shows the original train station in Point of Rocks that serviced the old mainline trains. Art Reid believes the location was "down towards the current park where the other houses and businesses were located track side." We don't know when this station opened, but according to the B&O Railroad timeline, the line reached Point of Rocks in April, 1832. Matt Watson documented that The Eli Mercier flour mill visible on the left was listed at Point of Rocks in Kirwin’s 1892-93 directory.

Tom Greco wrote: "The B&O “form 6” book dated August 1, 1904 lists separate stations at Washington Junction, and Point of Rocks, as it did for many years thereafter. However, this is the last issue to show station agents assigned to both stations. The agent at Washington Junction, at the time was W.F. Harrison, while the agent at Point of Rocks was listed as E.W. Mercier, the likely owner of the grain outfit next-door. There was also an R.C. Mercier, who was in agent at Catoctin (Lander) at the time. The next "form 6" I have is 1912, and by that time, there was no agent listed a Point of Rocks, only Washington Junction. Wade Watson pointed out that "Washington Junction Station was renamed Point Of Rocks in 1924 so I would assume that is when this little station ceased operation."

(Photo courtesy of the B&O Railroad Museum)