Grand Trunk station (Lewiston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grand Trunk railroad station
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1912 postcard showing the station
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 103 Lincoln St., Lewiston, Maine |
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| Built | 1874 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000127 |
| Added to NRHP | June 4, 1979 |
The Grand Trunk station is an old and important train station located in Lewiston, Maine. It was built way back in 1874. This station helped connect Lewiston and nearby Auburn to the bigger Grand Trunk Railway network. Many French-Canadian immigrants came through this station to find work in the local mills. Because of its history, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
About the Station
The Grand Trunk station in Lewiston is found in the city's old mill area. It is a rectangular building made of brick, with a pointed roof. The roof has wide edges that stick out, held up by large supports.
You can see decorative towers near the ends of the roof. The windows and doors are shaped like rounded arches, with stone sills at the bottom. On the side facing Lincoln Street, you can still see faded paint that once showed the name of the Grand Trunk Railway.
A Gateway to New Lives
The station was built in 1874 by the Lewiston and Auburn Railroad Company. It was then rented out to the Grand Trunk Railway. This railway connected Lewiston to the larger Canadian National Railway system.
Many French-Canadian immigrants traveled through this station to reach the Lewiston-Auburn area. They came seeking new opportunities and jobs in the busy textile mills. Because so many people started their new lives here, the building became known as the "Ellis Island" of Lewiston. Just like the famous Ellis Island in New York, it was a place where many new Americans first arrived.
From Abandoned to Revived
After train service to the station stopped, the building was left empty for many years. People suggested different ideas for what to do with it.
In 2010, the Lewiston and Auburn Railroad Company received a special grant. This money came from the Recovery Act, given by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grant helped to renovate and fix up the Grand Trunk Railroad Station.
Today, the building is home to a restaurant. However, there are plans to bring back train service on the line. This new service could connect Lewiston to the Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport.
