BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Central Terminal might not be what it was in June 1929, but Tom Murphy and Ben Hiltz are helping to keep the building standing tall. 

"It's decaying, but slowly from all the work these volunteers have done," explained Murphy, the volunteer property manager at the Central Terminal. 


What You Need To Know

  • Buffalo Central Terminal opened June 1929

  • It became closed/abandoned in early-mid 1990s

  • 15 to 20 volunteers, at any given time, work to clean up and revitalize Central Terminal 

"We're just fascinated by old things I guess. Or old school, you could call us," laughed Ben Hiltz, the head volunteer of the Building Committee.

At any given time, the 15 to 20 volunteers are the backbone of this terminal. 

"Everything you see, volunteers worked on, lights, restrooms, electric, plumbing, over 64 security cameras," said Murphy. 

"We had the metal pieces fabricated, but then BOCES did welding work to put it all together," added Hiltz. 

And the COVID-19 pandemic didn't stop them either.

"We followed the same guidelines, like any other business," said Murphy.

The Central Terminal was left abandoned by the early-to-mid 90s. As time went on, the once beautiful train station was crumbling and filled with trash. 

"One of the first projects when central terminal restoration took it over, was to shovel out the homeless and shovel the dirt and garbage off the concourse," explained Hiltz. 

More work still needs to be done, but with donations and grant money from the Buffalo Billion, the terminal began to see more and more people.

"A couple Saturdays ago, one of the volunteers got engaged in front of the clock," noted Murphy. "Weddings, rehearsals, funerals, yea we've had it all here," Hiltz added. 

Many thanks; however, go to these volunteers. The self-called preservationists, who keep the colorful lights on at night, at a time, we need it most.