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considerably startled as the stream came splashing upon the roof of the cars, supposing for an instant that the rocky arch was tumbling down."
Since the later part of 1871 an earnest debate had raged as to where to locate the new Midland depot in Middletown. Some advocated building the station at the Wickham Avenue crossing: others favored the East Main Street crossing. Dewitt C. Littlejohn offered the perfect solution: for $3,000 each, the company would be happy to build a depot at each location. On June 19, 1872, this silly idea was adopted. Land for the station at Wickham Avenue was donated by John H. Millspaugh and others, as well as some being purchased by the company. A street would be opened between. Wickham Avenue and North Street. This became Low Avenue, named for H.R. Low. By mid-July, foundations for both stations were being dug. The upper, or Wickham Avenue depot, was single-story, 24 x 60 feet, painted a light brown, and cost $6,000 to build. It was built by the American Corrugated Iron Co. The Main Street station (still standing at 140 East Main Street) was designed by Cornelius J. Sloat and built by Peter F. Miller, both of Middletown. Both buildings were completed in November. The Main Street depot was opened for use November 18, 1872. The Wickham Avenue depot finally opened June 9, 1873 when trains began stopping at both stations.
A month later, on July 9, 1873, Elisha P. Wheeler of Middletown, former vice-president of the Midland, drove the last spike at Westfield Flats (Roscoe). The next day, the first train went from Oswego to Jersey City. Dewitt C. Littlejohn's railroad, "which would not cost over $8 million to build", was completed at a cost of some $26 million. In July of 1873, the same month it was completed, the New York & Oswego Midland entered receivership. August saw Middletown selected as the location for division shops. These did not live up to the great expectations that had been held for them until the Midland became the 0 & W.
The old Midland was purchased for $4.6 million on November 14, 1879. It was incorporated, January 21, 1880 as the New York, Ontario & Western Railway Company. To reach New York, it was decided to construct a branch to Cornwall, where trackage rights were arranged with the New York, West Shore & Buffalo. The 0 & W would use West Shore's rails down to the terminal at Weehauken, NJ. Operations on the Cornwall line began in January, 1883. Of the eleven stations on the "Cornwall line, only the Mechanicstown station survives. It is currently a restaurant (Rusty Nail) on Dunning Road.
Early in 1886, it was announced the 0 & W planned to improve the Wickham Avenue depot by adding another floor and a restaurant. That station would be the main 0 & W depot, rather than the East Main Street station. The improvements were completed in May, and on May 30, 1886, the Wickham Avenue-station became the 0 & W's Middletown station. Only a brief stop would