Model City, NY

An undated photo showing the New York Central station at Model City, NY. Found on eBay.

Model City was a station on the Hojack Line operated by the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad and later the New York Central Railroad.

An 1897 history of Niagara County described Model City as:

Model City is a recent production of the modern “land boomers” enterprise. Its chief promoter was William T. Love, who about four years ago conceived the idea of founding, in the north part of this town, a city on scientific and artistic principles. He received options on large tracts of land, surveyed them out into city lots, and for two or three years “boomed” the place. He also obtained franchises from the State Legislature for an unlimited water supply from Niagara River, and projected a gigantic canal for this purpose upon which about $40,000 were expended. A few buildings were erected, including a union church in 1895, and streets were laid out and some grading done. On December 19, 1896, F. W. Moore started a newspaper called the Model City Power, which on April 1, 1897, passed to John E. Strayer, who removed the outfit in June to Lewiston. Model City is now a station on the R. W. & O. Railroad.

A May 1896 article talked about a planned railroad running from Model City to Lewiston, but there is no record of the railroad ever being constructed.

The city never materialized and the developer, William T. Love, left the area with an unknown amount of his investor’s money.

The track layout and location of railroad buildings at the Model City Station on the New York Central’s Hojack Line. Author’s illustration based on 1917 New York Central Railroad valuation maps VS-90/168 and VS-90/169 from the National Archives collection.

History

The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad (RW&O) completed construction of the line from Niagara Falls to Oswego in 1875. The RW&O operated the line until March 1891 when the company was leased to the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. The line was operated by the New York Central (1891 – 1968), the Penn Central Railroad (1968 – 1976) and Conrail (1976 on). The line was redundant with others operated by Conrail and by the late 1970s the entire line between Oswego and Niagara Falls had been abandoned or, in a few cases, sold to smaller railroads to operate small sections.

Clippings

Photographs

The New York Central tracks and canning factory at Model City, NY. Found on eBay.

Maps

A January 1904 map of the New York Central Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Division. Official Railway Guide, January 1904.

A 1908 map showing the town of Lewiston, NY. The original route of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad is shown as a dotted line going northeast from the northeast corner of the village of Lewiston. The later route, built in 1880, goes from south through Model City and then west along the Niagara Escarpment through the southeast corner of the village before turning south to Suspension Bridge and Niagara Falls. The locations of the River View, Lewiston Heights, and Model City stations are shown on the map. Century Map Company. 1908. “Niagara County, 1908, Lewiston Town.” Historic Map Works collection.

A route of the “Hojack Line” from Oswego to Niagara Falls, NY. Author’s illustration based on a 1929 New York Central map.

Timetables

A September 20, 1897 timetable of trains on the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad “Hojack Line” between Oswego and Suspension Bridge, NY. “Travelers’ Official Guide of the Railway and Steam Navigation Lines, October 1897.” Found on Google Books

A January 1904 timetable of trains on the New York Central Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Division. Official Railway Guide, January 1904.

Learn More

Wikipedia. “Model City, New York“
Lewis, Clarence O. Niagara Falls [NY] Gazette, 12 April 1967. “1893 Canal Planners Envisioned City of 600,000”