Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Train Depot in Maine
Fort Kent Railroad Station, Fort Kent Maine
Fort Kent's former railroad station is the most significant and intact building associated with the community's turn-of-the-century economic development in its position at the northern terminus of the Fish River Railroad and later the Fish River Branch of the Bangor and Aroostook Railway. Opened on December 15th, 1902, the station served in its original capacity until 1979 when it was retired. Architecturally, the building is similar to other railroad stations built by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad which employ the gable on hip form with minor variations.
Penetrating the northern Maine wilderness, the Fish River Branch of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad provided an important transportation link for Fort Kent's lumber and agricultural industries. In addition, this rail line made fishing and hunting resorts accessible to Maine sportsmen. The construction of the Fort Kent station probably coincided with the rail's construction during 1901 and 1902. When the line opened on December 15th, 1902, it was operated by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, which had a 999-year lease from the Fish River Railroad. Within the year the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad had acquired the line and a 67-year business relationship began between the railroad and Fort Kent.
Incorporated in 1869 with a population of about 1,000 persons, Fort Kent's turn-of-the-century growth is demonstrated by the fact that between 1900 and 1910 the population grew from 2,528 to 3,710. The railroad's arrival in Fort Kent was the major reason for its growth as a potato-producing center and shipping point for lumber products, a position which it maintained through the first half of the twentieth century. Following the decline in the number of potato loadings during the 1970s, the Fort Kent Station was retired in 1979. In 1980, it was donated to the Fort Kent Historical Society, whose plans include converting the station into a museum.
The construction of relatively small, modest railway stations accompanied the extension of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. One Bangor and Aroostook depot form employed the gable on hip roof with wide, overhanging eaves. Like the Fort Kent Station, other stations on the Bangor and Aroostook line (the Milo, Millinocket, Island Falls, and Bridgewater Stations most closely resembled the Fort Kent Station) made use of the gable on hip form with occasional variations. Unfortunately, few of these stations have survived with the level of integrity found on the Fort Kent example.
Building Description
The Fort Kent Railroad Station is a one-story seven-bay frame building that is one room deep. Covered in clapboards, the station's gable-on-hip roof has wide over-hanging eaves supported on each corner by two brackets. The building rests on a concrete foundation.
Facing east, the station's principal elevation has a projecting bay south of center. It features a pair of two-over-two windows and a four-pane transom on the primary wall and a one-over-one window on each side. This bay is flanked by a door with a three-pane transom and one six-over-six double-hung sash window. The south end of this elevation has two four-panel baggage doors, above which is a five-pane transom. Plain brackets with bevelled ends support the eaves and there is one interior flue rising above the roof ridge.
The overall composition of the rear elevation is similar to the front elevation. The projecting bay has one nine-over-six window and is flanked by paired four-over-four windows. Two other four-over-four windows on the south end complete this elevation.
The south end wall has two centrally grouped four-over-four windows and is punctuated by a three-pane fixed window in the gable peak. The south end wall has only one four-over-four window in addition to its fixed window in the gable peak.
Inside, the south end of the building once served as the freight room. The other three rooms were probably used as an office waiting room and ticket room, and they feature plain horizontal sheathing.
Looking from northeast (1988)
