#6. The Old Rail Depot

From Canal Warehouse, cross Murray Hill Road and follow the Greenway path for about 200 ft. The old railroad depot station sat in the yard on your right. There is no longer a structure evident.

Construction of a rail system through the hilly wilderness of this region solicited a need for people to help build giant trestles and lay down rails. Many of the workers who came to Belfast with the railroads were from Italy. Therefore, the three main railroad lines that fed Belfast brought not only new people, but a new way of life.

By 1882, rails eliminated the need for a canal system of transport, so the surrounding area that was once dependent on the canals (Site #5) had to be re-purposed. An Italian rail foreman, Mike DeCillio, took possession of the defunct properties around the Train Depot; including a bakery that was across the street and the canal warehouse (Site #5). When Mike and his wife "Mom" took claim to the empty warehouse, they converted it into a rather rowdy bar and brothel. As one might guess, this area became a bit lawless, and soon, excise detectives from Albany, NY, took the train into Belfast to investigate the DeCillios.

On December 20, 1907, officers Joseph Dardano and Albert Mantica entered the bar and publicly confronted DeCillio regarding taxes and liquor laws.

The following morning, Giuseppe Sanducci (a 23- year old employee of DeCillio's bakery) woke up and packed a gun into his coat. He then allegedly walked across the street to this train depot. He was searching for Dardano and Mantica who were scheduled to take a train back north. He found the men on the platform about to board the train and shot them from behind. Both men died.

Sanducci admitted to killing Dardano and Mantica, but insisted it was in self-defense. However, on April 2, 1908, he was convicted of murder in the 1st degree. Giuseppe Sanducci has the unfortunate demise of being one of the first humans in New York to be put to death by an electric chair.

Note the ellipse in the middle of the fenced area above - that was an old goldfish pond. The remains are still evident in the grass near the Greenway.

This bridge is long gone, but the cement bases can still be found around Rt. 19 north of Belfast.

Building the bridge.

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