Grand Trunk Railroad Station, Lewiston Maine
- Categories:
- Maine
- Railroad Facility
- Passenger Station
The Grand Trunk station on Lincoln Street in Lewiston, often referred to as "The Depot", has an historical and sentimental value to the Franco-Americans of Lewiston-Auburn who comprise the majority of the Twin Cities' residents.
It is through this station that many thousands of French-Canadian immigrants passed as they settled in Lewiston, Auburn, and surrounding communities to work in the rapidly growing textile industries.
After 1874 most French-Canadian immigrants to Lewiston arrived by means of the Grand Trunk or Canadian National Railway. Originally, the line ran from Montreal to Portland, bypassing Lewiston and Auburn. However, the Twin Cities built their railroad to intersect with the Grand Trunk at Lewiston Junction and leased the entire operation to the Grand Trunk for ninety-nine years. In this fashion, the cities secured direct connections with Canada and the West.
Building Description
The Grand Trunk Railroad Station of Lewiston, built in 1885, has suffered in recent years from abandonment, but is structurally intact.
The building is of brick construction, rectangular in plan, with gabled roof. Its long axis is aligned east-west. Typical of its period and function it features extended roof overhangs supported by wooden brackets. At each end of the building, at the top of the gable, is a finial and ornate pendant. A single brick chimney is present astride the roof ridge.
Windows and doors are fitted with granite trim and are surmounted by low brick arches.
