meeyauw: Potter Place Train Station

Showing posts with label Potter Place Train Station. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Northern Rail Trail, Potter's Place Section

View Northern Rail Trail, Potter Place Section in a larger map

Above: Potter Place Railroad Station, where we joined the trail after leaving home on the bikes. This ride was 12.54 miles (20 km). You can see these photos placed on the Google map above. Each of the blue markers on the red trail is one of these photos. A complete set of photos of Potter Place and its history can be found here and here. We took this ride on August 8. I have procrastinated posting this because of the length, details, and the problems I have had using a mouse on Google maps. But now it works!

Above: the first railroad bridge we encountered (over the Blackwater River)

Above: a view of Mount Kearsarge from the trail

Above: Keniston Covered Bridge (Bridge #15, built 1882)

Above: a view of the Blackwater River from the Keniston Covered Bridge

Above: An original railroad marker. They are spaced regularly along the trail. I never stopped to see what they said (what a mistake!).

Above: the Lawrence Street culvert tunnel

Above:

This project was completed by Peter N. Petras Cleopa, Eagle Scout, with friends & fellow scouts of Troop 489.

We dedicate this stairway in memory of James LaFiosca.

Laconia Citizen
Laconia, NH
9 February 2001

James Lafiosca

ANDOVER — James "Jimmy" Lafiosca, 74, of East Andover, died Feb. 7, 2001, in Franklin Regional Hospital.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 2, 1927, he was the son of Daniel and Concettina Lafiosca. In 1957, he moved to New Hampshire. He moved to Andover in 1959.

In 1945, he graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School.

He served in the US Navy aboard a destroyer in the North Atlantic.

Mr. Lafiosca and his wife operated an inn in Franconia for two years. Since 1959, he and his wife operated Orchard House, a real estate business, in Andover.

He was past master of Kearsage Masonic Lodge and a member of the York Rite bodies (32nd degree Freemason).

Mr. Lafiosca was an 18-year member of the Franklin Regional Hospital Board of Trustees, serving as president and clerk. In addition, he served as a commissioner of East Andover Fire Department and past president of Andover Lions Club.

He enjoyed woodworking and metalwork.

Above: Blackwater Park, Howard George Ballfield

Above: We almost stopped at our favorite (and only) pizza place — they put a spur on the trail for bikers.

Above: old railroad bridge over the Blackwater River
Wingnut on his bike; my bike leaning on the bridge.

Above: a geodetic marker at the bridge above.

Above: The Blackwater River

Above: the trail goes underneath Route 4 in Salisbury

Above: Horseshoe Pond
A causeway was built for the railroad that cut this pond in two.

Above: The Andover Town Garage

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Potter Place Train Station, Andover, NH

Potter Place Train Station

Text from a Andover, NH Historical Society brochure (the Society does not allow photos to be taken in the station, post office or caboose):

The Potter Place Train Station dates from 1874 and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and is an extremely well preserved example of Victorian station design. It was built and operated by the Northern railroad on the line running from Boston to Montreal. In 1890 it was taken over by the Boston & Maine Railroad.

Vintage Luggage Display

The railroad arrived in Andover in 1847 and played a key role in town history. For some time Andover had five stations serving local passengers and tourists as well as carrying goods for and from local businesses. Passenger trains served Potter Place until 1962 and freight shipments continued until 1982.

Newly Acquired Hand Car

Caboose

A Rutland caboose, acquired in May of 1987, sits on the track next to the station, and is open for visits.

J.C. Emons Store

J.C. Emons Store and Potter Place Post Office

Situated across the street from the Potter Place Railroad Station Museum is the J.C. Emons Store and Potter Place Post Office. This and a neighboring house were bought in 1994 and donated to the Society by H. Everett Humphreys. Mr. Humphreys, a long time resident of Andover's Ragged Mountain Fish and Game Club, wanted the store and post office to be preserved for the enjoyment and enlightenment of future generations. He felt that by adding them to the property owned by the Historical Society the integrity of the whole area of Potter Place would be preserved. The store was built in 1912 and operated until 1958; the Potter Place Post Office served the area from 1871 until 1988. Since acquiring the property Society has been actively restoring the building. The ground floor exhibit is part of the Historical Museum. It models an early twentieth century store, complete with tin ceiling and old pot-bellied stove. The Post Office area contained the original mail boxes and sorting tables authentically preserved, even though the hours "Open weeddays 6:30-12:00, 3:00-5:00, Saturdays 6:30-9:00" are no longer applicable.

Potter Place Train Station

The graves of Richard & Sally Potter

The home site and grave of the famous 19th century black magician Richard Potter is adjacent to the station on the Society's grounds.

Cellar hole of the Potter home

'RICHARD POTTER was a well known and successful black magician/ventriloquist in the early 19th century. He traveled and performed throughout America. In 1814 he bought a large tract of land here and built a fine home where he entertained a wide circle of friends . . . it is believed that "the Potter Place" was the origin of the name of this community and the railroad depot." 'From the Historical Marker on Rt. 4.

Potter Place Train Station Set

Technorati Tags: Potter Place Train Station, J.C. Emons Store

_/\_/\_