B&O Railroad Station and Willard Hotel
description: The Railroad station’s façade is richly framed: it faces Main Street at a lower elevation, to what looks like it shows two stories there, but on the trackside (where the land slopes) it rises to three stories. The front is arranged around a central block of five bays; the three middle bays form the main entrance and are flanked by substantial three‑quarter height columns. Above these, a strong entablature runs across, leading up to a parapet. In the center of it is a curved parapet cresting over the central bays, inside which is a large, decorative symbol bearing the B&O logo. Inside, the station has a grand central lobby. The interior finishes are elegant: marble floors, tall classical columns, and large windows that allow natural light to flood the space. The ticketing and baggage offices occupy one wing, while the other wing was used for related railroad administrative functions and passenger facilities. The Willard Hotel, built immediately adjacent and slightly east of the station (finished in 1912), complements the station architecturally but with certain distinct stylistic features. It’s a 6-story building in a Second Empire manner mixed with Beaux‑Arts detailing. The hotel has a mansard roof with dormer windows, and its façade uses red brick combined with stone (or cut stone) trim, including quoins and corbeled brickwork. The hotel has large public rooms such as a ballroom, dining rooms, reading rooms, etc.
creator: Architect: M. A. Long Construction: The complex was built by J.J. Walsh and Son of Baltimore.
source: Image 1, 4, 5, 6 https://img.atlasobscura.com/lcd101JHqczAkEEKRAXtLzw0iuoU_qV8I-fIyzbLSho/rt:fit/h:400/q:81/sm:1/scp:1/ar:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdGxh/cy1kZXYuczMuYW1h/em9uYXdzLmNvbS91/cGxvYWRzL3BsYWNl/X2ltYWdlcy9hMjRl/ZWVjYy03YzhmLTRm/NzEtODAyMi05YzNj/ODVjZGFkZGIyYTc2/NzNkYTA3YjEwZTRm/ZTdfOTAwMTg5NkEt/OTRCQy00NTk4LUIz/QUMtRUU1NTIxNTFG/RTlFLmpwZWc.webp Image 2 - 3 https://sah-archipedia.org/sites/default/files/pictures/full/WV-01-TA1-002.jpg Image 7 https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/ticket-counter-marion-oh-train-depo-usa-321693167.jpg
date: 1911
contributor: Justin Forster
format: The B&O Station is built in the Beaux Arts style The Willard Hotel is built in the Second Empire style
language: Grafton West Virginia
type: Public