FRENCHVILLE, Maine — The Frenchville Historical Society is reviving a unique piece of Maine history through its efforts to rebuild the Frenchville Railroad Station, originally built by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad in 1910.
The station is one of three places in Frenchville on the National Register of Historic Places, with the other two being a water tower, also built by the railroad company in 1910, and a caboose built during World War II in 1943.
Just a small number of Maine railway stations are on the National Register, and society members said Frenchville would be the only town in the state to have an adjacent water tower and caboose that are also on the registry.
The station was sold to local farmer, Gerard Raymond, in 1971 and used for storage. Raymond, like many in the area, also worked for the railroad company in his youth. The building eventually fell into a state of disrepair and was demolished in 2015.
Shortly before the demolition, local contractor Charles Collin took photos and created a digital blueprint of the station in case the society ever considered rebuilding it.
The railroad company, during its heyday, was among Aroostook County’s largest employers. Through this effort, the society hopes to revive and preserve an important piece of the town and region’s history.
The Frenchville Historical Society is based in the historic Wylie House on Main Street, which is located across the street from the water tower and caboose. Historical Society President Jackie Paradis said they are quickly running out of space and that the restored station would also help store and display newly donated items.
“What’s happened recently is that we have been turning down artifacts,” Paradis said, “because we have no place to put them.”
Aside from the house, Paradis said some artifacts are in the caboose, some are in a shed behind the water tower, and that the society recently purchased a cargo container for extra items.
Roughly one year ago, the society decided it was going to move forward with rebuilding the station. Collin is helping the group put a bid package together to recreate the 640-square-foot building.
While the project is just in its preliminary stages, Collin said that it will likely cost between $100,000 and $150,000. He said this is based on his experience as a contractor and the price per square foot, but that many of the project’s details have not yet been solidified.
As the project moves forward from the preliminary planning stage, the society plans to put out more information about what it will entail and to begin fundraising efforts.
The Frenchville Historical Society was established in 1984. Earlier this summer, Aroostook County Commissioners awarded founding members Karen and Phil Levesque with a Spirit of America Award for working to preserve the town’s history.
Paradis said the couple was instrumental in starting the historical society.
Alice Carpenter, a board member who formerly served as the society’s president, said that back in 1984, the caboose was the society’s only building. The water tower, while administered, cleaned and taken care of by the historical society, is owned by the town. The town would have to apply for any grants needed for repairs, for example.
In 1994, the town gave the Wylie house to the society to maintain. Carpenter said the society has done well in the past 30 years maintaining the house with grants and using volunteer work to replace certain parts like some of the windows. But many parts of the house are authentic, like the hardwood floors and tin ceilings.
Anyone interested in donating to the railroad station project can mail the Frenchville Historical Society at P.O. Box 184, Frenchville, Maine 04745.
