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Legacy: Sheltering Island

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If the photo above reminds some of today's Sea Cliff railroad station, it's because nearly identical stations were built in Glen Head and Sea Cliff in 1888. Sea Cliff's survives, but Glen Head's was torn down in 1961. Ron Ziel, author of several books about the Long Island Rail Road, says the 1888 stations were attractive because of the gingerbread screening at either end of the canopies.

The photo was taken by Long Island photographer Henry Otto Korten. Judging by the steam engine, the auto and a hansom cab in the background, Ziel says the photo was probably taken around 1910.

Glen Head riders of the LIRR's Oyster Bay Branch find the current scene at right. The station is a simple wooden structure. Tickets are sold by machine.

``If that beautiful scene at the top replaced by the ugliness at the bottom is progress, I don't know what to say about it,'' Ziel says.