Caribou Historical Center hosts railroad display
CARIBOU, Maine — The Aroostook Valley Railroad (AVR) and Bangor & Aroostook (B&A) Railroad each had a notable impact on northern Maine in years past, and the Caribou Historical Center has been holding railroad displays in celebration of their significance.
Books, photographs, postcards, lanterns, and miniature replicas of these trains were on display at the U.S. Route 1 museum last Saturday. Museum volunteers previously opened for these displays on Jan. 30, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13, 2016. The final date of this display will be on Feb. 27, and the museum will begin to display vintage fashion on the subsequent Saturday.
“We’ve run this display for two months, and have had a good response, with about 90 visitors so far,” Dennis Harris, museum manager and curator. “This is the first time we’ve had a railroad display, although it has been suggested before. We’re not trying to focus on anything particular other than a couple railroads in the area. Most of the history we have is in the form of slides or in Bangor and Aroostook publications. There are lots of things to look at, thumb through, and read.”
The Aroostook Valley Railroad went through Caribou and Presque Isle in the early 20th century, and connected to the Canadian Pacific as well as the Bangor & Aroostook railroad. It lasted until 1985, when a flood washed out a bridge outside of Caribou and caused numerous smaller washouts between Washburn and Caribou. Currently, its coal shed stands on the corner Washburn and Roosevelt streets. A private owner has obtained caboose no. 7 in Blaine, and has put it up for sale. Bridges formerly used by the AVR are now used by ATVs and snowmobiles when they cross the Presque Isle Stream near the Aroostook River bridge.
The B&A railroad lasted roughly one century and helped many industries in the area. Food coming from potato processing plants in Caribou, Washburn, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle and Easton was commonly shipped via the B&A railroad. In addition, McKay Rock Products also shipped rocks, gravel, and sand for roadbed maintenance.
Iron Road Railways eventually acquired the B&A in 1995 and went bankrupt in 2002.
Overall, the museum manager was pleased with the turnout for the railroad display and hopes to see just as many, if not more, visitors for the upcoming vintage fashion display, which begins on Saturday, March 5th.
