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VOLUME 25:
LONG ISLAND RAILROAD SERVICE TO BLISSVILLE'S CENTER LUMBER
By Nicholas Kalis
Twenty-five in a series of glimpses into industries or warehouses that made
for interesting freight operations on the Long Island. Information presented
has included, where available, a brief history of the firm, how it was
served by the LIRR, and what commodities were received or shipped from
this facility.
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LIRR Photographer, July 30, 1936 slide, buildings of Standard Oil (former Peerless Oil? - Spot 8) in the distance, to the left. Van Iderstine is
west of Standard Oil on both sides Centre Lumber 37-10 Review Avenue (Spot 3) would be to right of tracks in distance.Camera is looking West.
Credit: Art Huneke Collection
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Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings (June 1966) at page 7 identifies Blissville’s Centre Lumber & Plywood Co., Inc. as Spot 3 . In a revised customer map of 1970, a Bleyco Paper appeared as neighboring Spot 4. Its siding held two cars in 1966. What type of facility was this (wholesale, retail)? Was 37-10 Review Avenue a brick building? Was there a fence around the property? Was it open to the public? According to telephone books it was at 37-10 Review Avenue, LIC 1 with telephone number EX2-4460 until 1962-3. When did they move to Ridgewood? Can anyone tell this authorwhat sort of freight cars serviced this business in the 1960s? Did Centre Lumber ship out anything by rail? What goods were received by rail?
Centre Lumber, now at 65 - 55 Traffic Street, Ridgewood, NY 11385, telephone: (718) 366-8888 and fax: (718) 417-9454, is served by the LIRR at Fresh Pond Yard. Their present President is Bernie Nadler.
Bliss Yard Drill would return to Yard A at the end of an 8-hour trick. Bliss Yard also had a later 3:00 PM Drill. Bliss Yard Drill used no hack for its one-mile trip to Blissville Yard.
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Centre Lumber, 37-10 Review Avenue (Spot 3) was on the right hand side of the tracks beyond Van Iderstine Spots 5a and 5b (beyond the vertical tanks)
at right side of photograph (photo looking West). Spot 5c is on left side of photograph, past switch. Greenpoint Avenue Bridge in background.
Vantage point is furthest East of all photos appearing in this article. Arthur Huneke, September 10, 1982, Color Slide,
Credit: Arthur Huneke Collection
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3 Centre Lumber, 37-10 Review Avenue (Spot 3) was east of Stoll Metal (Spot 2). According to Tony Fabrizi, Stoll Metal (Spot 2) is likely the building
with the Monitor roof (photo looking West), Greenpoint Avenue Bridge in background. Arthur Huneke Color Slide, September 10, 1982,
Credit: Arthur Huneke Collection
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Greenpoint Avenue Bridge in background. Camera looking ?? SteveHoskins Color Slide, Date Unknown.
Credit: Steve Hoskins
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Closest covered hopper lettered ECUX Exxon Chemical USA confirms building on the right is Allied Extruders, formerly Carbona
(Spot 1 or 30-50 Greenpoint between Greenpoint Avenue Bridge and Stoll Metal. Greenpoint Avenue Bridge in background. Camera looking West
Arthur Huneke Color Slide, September 10, 1982.
Credit: Art Huneke Collection
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Modeling
Those wishing to model Centre Lumberwould benefit from …
Credits
Thanks to LIST members Bob Sturm and Carl Fabrizi. The assistance of John Hyslop and Bob Miller of the Queens Borough Public Library, Long Island Division and Art Huneke is also gratefully acknowledged.
This author would appreciate any photographs of Centre Lumber at its Review Avenue location.
Bibliography
Long Island Railroad Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings (Reprint) June 1966
Long Island Railroad Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings (Reprint) August 1970
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Maps of Freight Stations and Private Sidings 1966
showing Centre Lumber as Spot 3
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Blueprints from Art Huneke Collection
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Centre Lumber (Spot 3) would be on the site of Andrews Lead. Andrews Lead Co may also be a predecessor of Carbona (Spot 1)
Truscon Steel may be the predecessor to Stoll Metal. In 1931, Truscon was purchased by Republic Steel but continued to operate as
Truscon until the early 1960s.
Blueprints from Art Huneke Collection
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