OAKFIELD, Maine — A picturesque Saturday afternoon provided the perfect backdrop for the Oakfield Railroad Museum’s first open house in two years.
Scores of people made the trek to the museum, located on Station Street in Oakfield, where they were given a glimpse into one of the primary transportation methods of yesteryear. Featuring free french fries and hot dogs, the event marked the 30th anniversary of the Oakfield Railroad Museum.
The open house also included the unveiling of a new addition to the Museum, an auxiliary building where events can be held and food can be served.
“This building was a garage that belonged to a house next door,” Alberta MacDonald, president of the Oakfield Historical Society, said. “It was so solid that we asked them not to tear it down so we could extend it as part of the museum. We will now be able to serve coffee and snacks every weekend.”
Opened in 1991, the Oakfield Railroad Museum is a former Bangor and Aroostook Railroad depot renovated into a museum. It is owned by the Oakfield Historical Society and operated by volunteers who are steeped in the lore of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad.
Among the many attractions available to view are a C-66 caboose car, complete with items from the railroad’s heyday; vintage signs that once adorned the depot; original railroad maps; telegraph equipment; signal lanterns and hundreds of historic photographs.
Fresh on the minds of museum officials at the open house was the recent burglary of many historical pieces from the museum. Two people were arrested and most of the items were recovered.
“We were able to recover everything but two items — a switch lantern and a two-man crosscut saw,” MacDonald said. “We were very disgusted. Many of the heavier items were found 200 yards down the railroad tracks.”
MacDonald credited the quick actions by the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, as well as input from the public on social media, for the quick recovery of items and the arrests.
“Those items are irreplaceable,” MacDonald said. “A lot of the items were donated by families who had a loved one that worked for the museum. It’s very important to keep those memories alive, because if you forget your past you are doomed to repeat it.”
The Oakfield Railroad Museum is open every weekend from 1 to 4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
OAKFIELD, Maine — July 10, 2021 — A conductor’s uniform hangs inside the C-66 caboose at the Oakfield Railroad Museum. The uniform is one of many relics available to view at the former Bangor and Aroostook train depot. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
OAKFIELD, Maine — July 10, 2021 — One of the many historical pieces on display at the Oakfield Railroad Musuem. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
OAKFIELD, Maine — July 10, 2021 — Alberta MacDonald, president of the Oakfield Historical Society, serves up some french fries during Saturday’s Open House at the Oakfield Railroad Museum. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
OAKFIELD, Maine — July 10, 2021 — Train tracks lead past the former Bangor and Aroostook train depot in Oakfield. The depot was converted to a showpiece for the Oakfield Railroad Museum in 1991. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
OAKFIELD, Maine — July 10, 2021 — Lonnie Little (left) and Landin Little take a peek at some of the miniature train sets on display at the Oakfield Railroad Museum Saturday. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
OAKFIELD, Maine — July 10, 2021 — A signal light is but one of many artifacts of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad that are on display at the Oakfield Railroad Museum. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
