Fort Kent station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Kent Railroad Station
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. Main and Market Sts., Fort Kent, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architectural style | B&A RR Station |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000249 |
| Added to NRHP | April 21, 1989 |
The Fort Kent Railroad Station is a really old train station in Fort Kent, Maine. It was built way back in 1902. This station was a busy place for trains until 1979. Today, it's not a train station anymore! It's a cool museum run by the Fort Kent Historical Society. The museum teaches everyone about the history of trains in the area and how they changed everything. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 1989, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Discover the Fort Kent Railroad Station
The Fort Kent Railroad Station sits at a busy corner where Main Street and Market Street meet. It's right next to the old railroad tracks. Imagine a long, rectangular building made of wood. It has a special roof shape called a gable-on-hip roof and its sides are covered with clapboard siding, which are long, overlapping wooden boards. The whole building rests on a strong concrete foundation.
What Does the Station Look Like?
If you look at the side of the station facing the tracks, you'll see a small section that sticks out. This was the telegrapher's bay, where someone would send and receive messages using a telegraph! Further down, there are big doors that were used for loading and unloading baggage. On the other side, you can see windows and doors for the ticket area and the waiting room, where people waited for their trains.
A Journey Through Time: The Station's Story
The station first opened in 1902, built by a company called the Fish River Railroad. Later, this railroad became part of a bigger company, the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. When the railroad came to Fort Kent, it was a huge deal for the area.
How Trains Changed Fort Kent
Before trains, it was hard to move goods around. But with the railroad, farmers and loggers could send their products, like lumber and potatoes, to faraway places. This helped the local economy grow a lot! People could also travel more easily.
From Tracks to Treasures: The Museum Today
By the 1970s, fewer people were using trains, and the railroad started to slow down. In 1979, the Fort Kent Historical Society took over the station. It's one of the best-preserved old train stations from that time! Inside, the station has been turned into a museum. It's filled with exhibits about local train history and how the railroad shaped the community. You can usually visit the museum during the summer months.
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