Pittsfield station (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pittsfield Railroad Station
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Pittsfield station in July 2022
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Central Street, Pittsfield, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000254 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 1980 |
The Pittsfield Railroad Station is an old train station in Pittsfield, Maine. It was built a long time ago in 1888. This station was built by the Maine Central Railroad company. Today, it's not a train station anymore. It's a special place called the Depot House Museum. The Pittsfield Historical Society runs this museum. Many people think it's one of the best-kept old train stations in Maine. Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 23, 1980.
Contents
What the Station Looks Like
The Pittsfield station is a one-story building. It is made of wood and has a special type of siding called clapboard. The building sits on the north side of the train tracks. These tracks run east and west, just outside the town center.
The front of the building faces south, towards where the trains used to be. It has nine sections with windows and doors. There is also a rectangular part that sticks out. The roof is shaped like a hip, which means it slopes on all four sides. In the middle of the front, there's a small triangular part called a gable.
Special Design Features
The station has wide roof edges that stick out. These edges are decorated with fancy wooden supports called Stick style brackets. There's also a decorative band called an entablature. All the original windows are still there. They have colorful, patterned glass in their top sections, which makes them very unique.
A Look Back at the Station's History
The first train tracks came to Pittsfield in 1855. The Maine Central Railroad brought service to nearby Bangor and Waterville. This made it easier for people and goods to travel.
Growing Train Traffic
In 1886, another train line was built. The Sebasticook and Moosehead Railroad created a track from Pittsfield to Hartland. This new line made the Pittsfield station much busier. More trains meant more people and more things being moved.
Because of all the extra activity, the Maine Central Railroad built this larger station in 1888. There used to be another building next to it. This "exchange house" helped move goods between the two different train lines. That building is no longer there.
The Station Today
The town of Pittsfield now owns the old train station. The Pittsfield Historical Society takes care of it. They have turned it into the Depot House Museum. Visitors can learn about the history of trains and the town there.
See also
