The initial segment of the IRT White Plains Road Line opened on November 26, 1904, between 180th Street–Bronx Park and Jackson Avenue.

[4][5][6] To address overcrowding, in 1909, the New York Public Service Commission proposed lengthening the platforms at stations along the original IRT subway.

[7]: 168  As part of a modification to the IRT's construction contracts made on January 18, 1910, the company was to lengthen station platforms to accommodate ten-car express and six-car local trains.

The IRT Pelham Line (6 and <6>​ trains), which curves above Westchester Avenue five blocks northeast of this station, is visible from the east end of the platforms.

Due to the tracks' low height above ground, both station houses are at platform level and there are no crossovers or crossunders.

The southbound platform (for trains headed to Manhattan) has a station house that is staffed full-time and contains several sets of doors leading to the small waiting area from the platform, a turnstile bank, token booth, two staircases going down to either northern corners of Simpson Street and Westchester Avenue, and one elevator going down to the northeast corner.

It consists of stained glass panels on the platform windscreens and station houses with the theme with renewing or rebuilding what has died or fallen.