Abandoned Sedgwick and Jerome-Anderson station in the Bronx. Image via Vanshnookenragen
As the city moves at the speed of light, we tend to forget that what moves us also can vanish through time. The abandoned Sedgwick and Jerome-Anderson station in the Bronx is one of many in New York City that are decommissioned but retain signs of their former use.
The Sedgwick and Jerome-Anderson stop was a part of the Ninth Avenue El, which was the first elevated railway in the city’s history, dating back to 1867. This stop opened in 1918 and closed in 1958 but served the city well, extending from the Bronx at the Polo Grounds to Manhattan. While most of the stops are now demolished, parts of the Sedwick/Jerome-Anderson tracks still exist, albeit in ruins.
The Jerome-Anderson portion of the station was the first stop and can only be accessed from the Sedgwick side. The elevated portion is now gone, with only a concrete wall to prove its former existence. Getting to the Jerome-Anderson side is difficult since the elevated platforms are no longer there. In order to actually see this part, you must do some professional rubble climbing (not recommended). As you can see in the photos from Vanshnookenragen, the station is strewn with debris and graffiti.
But if your ambitions outweigh risk, do not fret. Taking the footbridge from the Sedgwick side gives you access to the abandoned Sedgwick platforms. Although an iron cast blocks off the stairway, you can still see the remains of a subway track being overgrown by mother nature.
Also known for its “Suicide Curve” at 110th street, the IRT Ninth Avenue line has left behind this former subway station for the curious to discover.
The Jerome-Sedgwick abandoned subway station gives hindsight on New York’s transformation on urban redevelopment. Elevated parks such as the High Line shows that the city (and others around the world) have the ability to repurpose infrastructure that can serve us today. It is highly unlikely that the MTA will reuse Jerome-Sedgwick in its previous function as a transit station, but there’s the possibility for redevelopment into parks, gardens, or other green initiatives.
