Frenchville Railroad Station and Water Tank facts for kids
The Frenchville Railroad Station and Water Tank are a cool historical spot in Frenchville, Maine. Imagine a time when trains were powered by steam! This station and its tall water tank were built way back in 1910 by the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad. They were added to a special list of historic places in 1995. The station stopped being used in 1971. The water tank became old-fashioned even earlier, in 1958, when new diesel trains took over from steam trains. For a while, the town used the water tank to help the fire department! Since 1985, the Frenchville Historical Society has been taking care of this important piece of history.
Quick facts for kids |
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Frenchville Railroad Station and Water Tank
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 308 US 1, Frenchville, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1910 |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000723 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1995 |
Contents
Discovering the Frenchville Railroad Station
The old Frenchville Railroad Station sits right next to United States Route 1 and the train tracks. It's a small, rectangular building made of wood. It has a roof that sticks out quite a bit, and its outside walls are covered with special wooden boards called weatherboard.
Inside, the station was divided into three parts. There was a main room for the train agent, a space for freight (goods being shipped), and a waiting area for passengers. The inside walls and ceiling have cool pine wood panels and decorative metal designs. This station served the railroad from 1910 until 1971.
Meet the Caboose
Right next to the station, you'll find a short piece of train track. On this track sits a caboose. A caboose is a special car where the train crew used to ride at the very end of the train. This particular caboose is about 51 feet long.
It was first built in December 1943 to carry soldiers during World War II. In 1949, the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad bought it and turned it into a caboose. It was used until 1981. In 1988, it was given to the Frenchville Historical Society, where it now helps tell the story of trains.
The Tall Water Tower
Beyond the caboose, you'll see a tall, green water tower. It's about 40 feet high and 20 feet wide. It has an eight-sided wooden base that sits on a concrete pad. Strong wooden beams and steel rods hold up the big tank. A pointed roof sits on top.
This tower was also built around 1910. It held water for the steam engines that pulled trains. Steam engines needed a lot of water to create the steam that made them go! But in 1958, the railroad switched to diesel engines, which don't need water. So, the tower was no longer needed for trains.
The town of Frenchville then bought the water tank. They used it as a water supply for their fire department until 1981. Since 1985, local people and the Frenchville Historical Society have been taking care of this historic water tower.
See also
