Staff Report / April 13, 2026
Avoca NY – A significant piece of railroad history has found a new home in Steuben County as the Erie Lackawanna Railroad Historical Society officially dedicated its new archive building in the village of Avoca.
The newly opened facility, known as the Eric Dervinis Archive Building, is designed to safeguard thousands of historical documents, photographs, and artifacts tied to the Erie Railroad, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and their eventual merger into the Erie Lackawanna system.
Society members, railroad enthusiasts, and community supporters gathered for the dedication ceremony, marking a major milestone in the organization’s ongoing mission to preserve and share rail history. The archive building provides a centralized location where materials can be properly stored, cataloged, and made accessible to researchers and the public.
Located on Main Street in Avoca, the new space is more than just a storage facility—it is intended to serve as a research hub. Visitors and historians will have opportunities to explore records and learn more about the railroads that once played a vital role in shaping transportation and commerce across the region.
The dedication event also coincided with a broader gathering hosted by the society, featuring presentations and opportunities for attendees to engage with railroad history firsthand.
Leaders of the organization say the project reflects years of planning and volunteer effort. By expanding archival capabilities, the society aims to ensure that important historical materials are preserved for future generations and remain accessible to anyone interested in the legacy of railroading in the Northeast.
The opening of the archive building underscores Avoca’s continued connection to railroad heritage and highlights the role local organizations play in keeping that history alive.
