Hi everyone,
Do you love the idea of going on a scenic train ride through autumnal New England, but don't want to drive all the way to the White Mountains? If so, there are six amateur historians from across southern Maine are working to restore a historic narrow gauge railway right here in the Lakes Region.
Adam Cook of the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Museum told Lakes Region Now that he, along with five other rail enthusiasts, bought a $75,000 piece of land on Home Run Road, from which they plan to build a museum dedicated to the historic Bridgton and Saco River Railroad and a mile-and-a-half long restoration of the historic narrow gauge leading to downtown Bridgton.
The narrow gauge railroad existed in its initial form from 1881 to 1941, extending from Bridgton to Hiram, with an extension to Harrison opening in 1898. The railway was purchased by Maine Central Railroad in 1912, and fell into decline in the 1920s due to the rise of automobile travel. While the Bridgton and Harrison Railway was chartered in 1927 to save the failing railroad, revenue continued to decline and the railroad closed in 1941.
When asked about an expected timeline for completion, Cook said it was all down to money and permitting. The museum currently has memberships, a newsletter and a couple of local businesses supporting it financially. The museum is also working with town governments and historical societies of the railway’s former route.
Also in this week's newsletter: Meadowbrook Equestrian Center staff discuss recovery from fire; Gray ponders uses for transfer station, and more.
Thanks for reading,
- Rory Sweeting |
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| A demonstration of the planned Bridgton and Saco River Railway. (Rory Sweeting/Staff Writer) |
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The Gray Public Library will host an event titled, "From Maine to Mainstream: Working Remotely for Hollywood," on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m.
The event will feature three professionals from the edutainment world who work remotely in Gray and New Gloucester, and will discuss the benefits and challenges of working remotely in Maine. Panelists include Mat Rotman, whose award-winning VFX work includes several Marvel films and "The Wizard of Oz" at Sphere in Las Vegas; William Welte, a former animation assistant for Family Guy; and Caroline Kopesky, whose recent motion graphic work includes "Twisters" and "Joker."
The event will be moderated by Gray IT Director Kyle Hadyniak. For more information, email akazilionis@graymaine.org.
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| THINGS TO DO |
Unity Environmental University will host an artist talk by Adriane Herman on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. Herman will discuss her artistic process, which "explores cycles of accumulation and release in our physical and emotional landscapes," as well as her collaboration with nonprofit waste manager, Out of Sorts. For more information, email nruddy@unity.edu.
Gray Public Library will host a talk by Katherine Silva, author of "Where the Soul Goes." The event is free, with no registration necessary. For more information, email akazilionis@graymaine.org. |
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Rory Sweeting is a community news reporter for Windham, Sebago and surrounding areas, and previously reported for the Lakes Region Weekly. Rory holds a bachelor’s degree in professional and creative writing from Goucher College in Maryland. Send feedback and suggestions to Rory. You can support this newsletter by encouraging friends and family to sign up and explore our other newsletters.
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