A photo of the Forestville Train Depot.

Imagine Forestville is seeking memories and photographs of life in Forestville during the railroad era. Until 1971, a train stopped daily in Forestville, and for a long time life in Forestville revolved around the train schedules.

The New York State Historic Preservations Office calls Forestville an “increasingly rare time capsule of a very particular era of development in Western New York railroad towns.” Imagine Forestville is hoping to hear from people who lived in Forestville while the train still came through or who have memorabilia and legends to share.

“We’d love to encourage current and former residents to share their memories and to look through their scrapbooks and albums to see if they have any shots of the Depot, too,” Aimee Rogers said. “From the time the train came to Forestville in 1851, it influenced our community in so many ways. We have the opportunity to tell the story of the relationship between the train and our community. Do they remember the sounds of the train, or the train whistle? Were there reunions at the Depot as loved ones returned home from school, or war, or work? Did anyone work at the Depot, or use the Forestville train for work?”

Please message info@imagineforestville.org or call 716-934-8534 with your stories and photos!