Gorham Historical Society & Railroad Museum

05/28/2026

New Model RR Volunteers!

Joining a long list of GHS volunteers who built (over three summers apparently) and operated and repaired our unique model RR in an old Central VT boxcar, are Guy Wood V (L) and Jaxon Beaudoin (R), in the photo below. Two trains that they were running are in the foreground. on the GTR line and the B&M line.

The guys are big railroad buffs and both are quite knowledgeable about HO model railroad engines, cars and repairs and explain things very well to visitors. They both are GMHS students.

It's been fun working with them to set up and experiment with different engines and all types of cars. And the guys are adept at maintenance and repairs. Thanks guys!

The GHS owns many cars and engines, some of which have been generously donated by local model railroaders or their families. Others the Historical Society has bought over the decades.

Thank you everyone!

05/27/2026

Gorham 1836: The First Sawmill

DB Wight's book (The Androscoggin River Valley: Gateway to the White Mountains) reported "The first sawmill by built this year (1836) by Andrew G. Lary and Jonathan Lary on Moose Brook, on what was then called Frog Road. This is now Cross St. and runs just south of the Moose Brook Bridge to NH Rt. 2 from Rt. 16. The mill derived its power from a large overshot water well. The water was conveyed to it by a long open spout, from a. dam built across Moose Brook, a short distance upstream from the mill."

05/26/2026

No water for the East side of town last night and today.

With a bad leak in Gorham, near Dublin St. the Gorham Water and Sewer staff have been hard at work since last evening.making repairs. Water has been made available at the Fire Station.

The lack of water, temporarily, on the east side of Main Street, affecting homes and businesses, made me think of the old days. When many people had hand dug wells and pulled up water in wooden buckets. Or using a hand carved wooden shoulder yoke to carry several buckets at a time, for household use or animals or garden. Some were lucky enough to have a good spring on their property so they set up a pipe. If streams and rivers were clean, they were a source of water for many decades.

As for toilets, the early settlers probably had some form of outhouse. Some folks even built 2-3 story outhouses with offset hole. When the pits were full they either had to did new ones and move the outhouse or empty them out.

Good water and good sewage systems that we have today, for the vast majority of citizens and businesses, are most welcome and appreciated. We also applaud the work of Town employees and sometimes contractors, as well as Federal and State funding to complement local funds to repair, expand or improve systems over time.

Some of the older residents may remember what it was like to haul water and to rely upon outhouses.

This website, "Roadside America" has some good examples of different outhouses:

Two-story houses! Not always lame tourist gags -- there are preserved historical examples of how this marvel of plumbing and convenience worked for well-to-do.

05/21/2026

Speeder Story from OR

For those wondering about "speeders" like the yellow 1 HP Fairmont that we have on display at the museum, here's a great story from PBS. Perhaps some readers, who work or worked for the railroad, also have some info and photos of "speeders" they have used for work in earlier decades or ones that they've owned. Over the years we have had some "speeder" owners with their restored rigs on trailers, swing by the museum on their way to a group ride arranged with some private or public railroad in the region. Our bright yellow Fairmont caught their eye.

Enthusiasts drive railroad speeders along the Oregon Coast, taking gifts to kids in need.

05/20/2026

Firetowers and Firewatchers

I think Pine Mt. Firetower was one of the first ones that we took our kids to, before it was torn down. I'm assuming that many readers also went there over the years. Here's a great blog about the women firewatchers during the War.

A Fire Tower Photo Essay

05/14/2026

View from the Lead Mine: Mascot Pond and the Cottage, workshops, garden, etc.

How many readers have been up to Mascot Pond and to the old lead mine, which is now closed off with a steel grate, to keep people out and to protect a bat colony?

It was a short lived mine. But when it was being touted, there were claims that it was a rich enough claim to cover America's debt! Back when the debt was tiny. Now the nations debt is larger than the Gross Domestic Product.

I added another photo of the mine complex, taken from near the Inn.

05/14/2026

More Info On the 220' Androscoggin River Suspension Bridge:

DB Wight’s excellent book “ The Androscoggin River Valley: Gateway to the White Mountains” has a wonderful section about the 220’ long suspension bridge that used to allow walkers to explore the hills to the north, stroll along the N side of the river and visit the lead mine and Inn at Mascot Pond.

While looking for something else (the book has no appendix, so my personal copy has 100+ Post-It notes to help me find tidbits of Gorham history in chapters that cover 5-10 year periods), I ran across details about the bridge:

Excerpt from the book:

"The Gorham Mountaineer was founded in 1877 by Virgil V. Twitchell, who had been a publisher in Portland. A number of new businessmen in town that year, included …….and Frank Richards, who opened a confectionary store and ice cream shop at his property at the end of Alpine St., by the Androscoggin River to serve the summer travel over the footbridge that was there".

Another excerpt from the book:

Richards wrote an article in The Mountaineer: “One of the great attractions of Gorham is the celebrated wire suspension bridge which crosses the Androscoggin River at the foot of Alpine St. Crossing over the bridge you start at once upon a newly built footpath with leads to the top of the celebrated Mt. Hayes. The picture from here cannot be sufficiently praised. “The Views will never be forgotten” says one of the White Mountain Guide Books. Visitors to Gorham and its surroundings should not miss the opportunity of seeing the magnificent scenery which greets you on every side. At the wire bridge will be found a near commodious ice cream salon; also confectionary, choice ci**rs, pop, beer, nuts, etc. In connection with the bridge are two self-acting swings which are just the thing to please the young and old. From this point Mt. Washington and surroundings can be seen clearly, and a fine telescope is alway ready for use. F. B. Richards".

05/11/2026

Alpine House, Second Depot and Methodist Church

This great photo, from the Randall Bennett collection, shows the hotel after if was closed.

05/11/2026

Transcontinental Railroad Across US Finished On This Date in 1869

An important day in history:

Milestones

05/10/2026

The Labonville Company: A North Country Success Story

This family owned company has operated and expanded in the region over many decades. Visitors to the store in Gorham can see historic photos of the business and family.

NH Chronicle did a story about them in 2017: https://www.wmur.com/article/friday-january-13th-labonville/8562465

Family immigrated from Quebec and built the business:
https://www.labonville.com/about-us

They even have an exhibit at the National Museum of American History for the creation and patent for their injury prevention and life saving chainsaw chaps!: https://www.labonville.com/national-museum-of-american-history

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