New York Railroad Archive

Onoville, NY

Undated photo of the Pennsylvania Railroad station in Onoville, NY. Posted by Stan Carlson on the Abandoned Rails – Buffalo & Western New York Facebook group.

Onoville was the westernmost station on the New York State portion of the railroad line along the south bank of the Allegheny River that started in Olean and passed through Salamanca. Because there was another South Valley in the State, citizens had to come up with a name for this hamlet.  The citizens could not agree on a name. William Webber said “Well, call it Oh no ville” which was adopted as Onoville. In the 1870’s, Onoville contained a church, several stores, a post office (1859), a variety of shops, a tavern (1848), a pubic house, and about 20 dwellings.

History

The line was first constructed 1882 or 1883 by the Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Western Railroad and was operated by the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railway / Railroad (1882 – 1887), Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad / Railway (1887 to 1900), and the Pennsylvania Railroad (1900 – 1962). The line was authorized for abandonment in 1962 to allow for the construction of the Kinzua Reservoir on the Allegheny River.

News Clippings

Digital Artifacts

Learn More

  • “South Valley“. Historic Path of Cattaraugus County web site.