Gilman Square is a planned light rail station on the MBTA Green Line "D" Branch in Somerville, Massachusetts, planned to be constructed as part of the Green Line Extension. Gilman Square will consist of one island platform, which will serve the "D" Branch's two tracks. It is projected to open in 2021.HistoryThe Boston and Lowell Railroad opened between its namesake cities in 1835; local stops were added after several years. Winter Hill station was located at Gilman Square in Somerville, one of several stations in the city. The station building was a long wooden structure north of the tracks. In 1870, the Lexington Branch was routed over the B&L east of Somerville Junction, increasing service to Winter Hill and several other stations.In 1888, a new stone station was built on the south side of the tracks; the wooden station was split into two sections which were reused as houses still standing near Magoun Square. The new station was made of red marble ashlar with rough marble trim; the waiting room featured a marble fireplace.The inner suburban stations lost much of their ridership to streetcars, especially after the Lechmere Viaduct sped travel times to downtown beginning in 1911. In 1927, the Lexington Branch was reconnected to the Fitchburg Line; the 1870-built line west of Somerville Junction became the Fitchburg Cutoff used only by freight trains. Three stations on the cutoff plus Prospect Hill and East Cambridge stations east of Winter Hill were closed entirely; the station buildings at Somerville Junction and Gilman Square were boarded up and service sharply reduced. The station was finally closed in the early 1930s; the station building was demolished in 1934, though the stone base of the station is still used to house electric equipment.
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