So our buddy Stphoto owner of the most excellent site View Infinitum set forth the challenge to capture local landmarks captured during a certain time mark. Well…I blew it and missed the time mark because of work. But I still wanted to participate, so STphoto buddy…I am posting them here with the big disclaimer…I took these today. 5:30 AM today. Before having to go into work. Please forgive me. I will send you the link to this post…but I fully understand if you choose not to accept it. The following photos have received only cropping and exposure corrections in Lightroom. They were not treated in Photoshop.
At 5:30 am in January there is no light and as I was rushing out the door I realized I didn’t have my tripod. So I made an Executive Decision (oh yes…always needs to be capped) and decided to seek out a living landmark. The Westfield Train Station.
On North Avenue in the bedroom community of Westfield,
Is the famous Westfield Train Station…
The Westfield Station is on the Historic Raritan Valley Line which has been in numerous movies…paging Sarah Bernhardt!
This is an active thriving station which begins business in the wee hours. Many Westfield-ians take advantage of the greener transportation opportunities afforded by both mass transit and cycling to get to the station. Even at this time in the morning, a few eager hearty souls have parked their cycles in the spaces provided by NJDOT.
The real gem of the station is the Newsstand which sells a variety of hot coffees, treats, fruit, gum and newspapers. The newsstand has been in operation since the early days and has been deemed a historic landmark by the town.
When I commuted into the city a few years ago, my morning refuge was making my way to the newsstand. The coffee was delicious but the service was the real salvation. If you have ever commuted to a large city, you know how brutal and impersonal it can be. I always felt the pride and VIP service that these men provided day in and day out…no matter how rainy, cold, or even hot and steamy it was out, was a tonic of Westfield small town charm. This represented to me the iconic notion of home.
The real landmark are the men who work this stand and breath the humanity into the simple act of buying a paper and a cup of joe for your commute.
The Completely True Adventures & Lamentations of OctoGal & OctoPup in Highlands 
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