Greenville

‘Save the Depot’ celebration and railroad workers’ reunion set for Aug. 17

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GREENVILLE — The 3rd annual “Save the Depot” celebration gets under way Saturday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as efforts continue to raise enough funds to renovate and relocate the historic Greenville Junction railroad station.

NE-SaveTheDepot-DC-PO-31Observer photo/Mike Lange

    A PIECE OF HISTORY — The third annual “Save the Depot” celebration is set for Aug. 17 at the historic structure in Greenville Junction.

    Save the Depot Committee Chair Jane Hall said that they’ve just completed a campaign to raise $10,000 to fix the underpinnings of the building. “A contractor’s bid package is being prepared by Gartley-Dorsky Engineering to go out after the celebration,” Hall said.
    The station was built in 1889 by the Canadian Pacific Railroad and the unusual “witch’s hat” was added to the roof sometime between 1900 and 1910, according to the railroad’s archives. The last regular passenger service using this station ended on Dec. 17, 1994 with discontinuation of VIA Rail Atlantic service.
    Texas businessman John “Randy” Parten started Acadian Railway, a luxury passenger train service from Montreal to New Brunswick, in 2002 with a scheduled stop in Greenville. But it folded after one year due to low passenger volume.
    Montreal, Maine and Atlantic (MMA) Railroad still owns the Junction Depot and will donate it to the preservation group only if they agree to move it to new location. While the building is structurally sound, repairs are needed to keep it intact before the move, Hall said.
    Plans to relocate the depot across the road on Route 15 have apparently hit a snag because the Maine Land Use Planning Commission has declared that the lot is located within wetlands, according to Hall. “So we have to eliminate all other possibilities of a suitable lot elsewhere before they’d consider giving us a waiver,” Hall said. “There’s land available, but some lots are over $300,000, and that’s not just feasible for us.”
    In any case, Hall said that contractors “will be lifting it up and putting it on steel beams this fall. Obviously, MMA has a lot of things on their mind nowadays, too.”
    MMA is still recovering from the July 6 disaster in Lac Megantic, Quebec that claimed 50 lives and caused millions of dollars in property damages. The railroad has essentially been shut down since then and nearly half of its 179 workers were laid off.
    The “Save the Depot” celebration will once again focus on the nostalgic aspects of Maine’s rail industry with invitations going out to retired railroad workers, crafters and artists. Retired section foreman Bob Roberts will return with his velocipede and visitors will have the opportunity to “ride the rails” with him at the celebration.
    The Grill Master General’s roadside barbecue from Abbot will return to the observance, and homemade desserts will also be served.
    At noon, the Dexter Community Band will host a concert featuring a medley of railroad songs.
    “We need more crafters and artists to make a memorable day,” Hall said, and anyone who would like to participate should e-mail her at info@greenvilledepot.org.
    Updates on the Aug. 17 activities will also be posted on the “Save the Depot” Facebook page.

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