Gilead Historical Society

The Baggage Wagon

The Gilead Historical Society was formed in 2004 after the Town of Gilead held their Bicentennial Celebration. Since that time, the Society has moved two buildings onto their property and restored them. The 1903 Schoolhouse was moved in 2009 when Route 2 was under construction and the 1851 Railroad Station was acquired in 2011. The Society has also published six books on the history of the Town of Gilead and the surrounding area, such as Hastings and the Wild River region. Several other projects have been completed throughout the past few years, but there was one that just seemed to hang on. In 2013, Stephen McLain found a baggage wagon that was in very poor condition and donated it to the Society. All of the metal parts were there but the wood had disintegrated long ago. He wanted to preserve it before it was too far gone. He enlisted the aid of his son, Brad McLain, and wife, Carole Mason, to load it onto a trailer and bring it to Gilead. So, the first part of the journey was complete when Stephen and Lise McLain donated the wagon. Over the past few years, the GHS has raised funds to restore the wagon. Since, the quotes received were much more than we could raise, the project was put on hold. Last summer, the Browns became involved. Ted and Emmy Brown, who are longtime summer residents on the Wild River Road or Route 113 stopped by the GHS and learned about the wagon and how it needed to be restored. It seems that their son, Tedd Brown, had a business and was very much into restoring vehicles. Tedd appeared with a trailer and removed the wagon to Hampstead, NH where his business, Cruiser Solutions, is located. The wagon spent the winter there being restored by Tedd’s dedicated crew. The wagon returned to the GHS on the day of the Annual Meeting in September. A beautiful work of art is the only way to describe it. Hugh Chapman spoke about the journey the wagon went through and then introduced Tedd, who spoke on the process that was used to restore the wagon. The dedication of three plaques was then presented: “Donated by Stephen and Lise McLain”, “Restored by Cruiser Solutions and the Browns”, “Restored in Memory of Robert ‘Bob’ Bishop”. Bob, who passed away in 2020, was a Life Member of the Gilead Historical Society and a very active and dedicated member along with his wife Judy. He loved everything about railroads and their history. The journey of the baggage wagon has come to an end beside the 1851 Railroad Station where it will stand proudly as a reminder of what hard work by the GHS members and the generosity of the Brown family can accomplish.

2017 Friends and Family Day Program

"A Century of the White Mountain National Forest in Maine"

Friends and Family Day will be held on Saturday, June 24th. This is a joint program being offered by the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society and the Gilead Historical Society. The subject of the program marks the 100th anniversary of the first land purchase in Maine for what, in 1918, would become the White Mountain National Forest. The day will start with a public lunch (fee) at 11:00am at the Gilead Town Hall.

The program: “A Century of the White Mountain National Forest in Maine.” will begin at 1:30pm. The presenter, David Govatski of Jefferson, NH is a forester and environmental consultant, who worked for the U. S. Forest Service for more than thirty years. He is also a co-author with Christopher Johnson of “Forests for the People: The Story of America’s Eastern National Forests (2013).”

The White Mountain National Forest was established in 1918 as a result of the Weeks Act of 1911. It is a federally managed forest (750,852 acres) in the White Mountains in Maine and New Hampshire.

GHS Visitors

Recently, Norm Buttrick, part-time resident of the Bog Road in Gilead, had visitors from Belgium. Sophie Rase-Dehu was one of Norm’s archaeology students who was on an exchange program and went to St. Joseph College on scholarship and later became a lawyer in Belgium (works for the European Community in Luxemburg). She returned this spring with her family for a visit with Norm and part of their visit included a trip to Gilead. They stayed at the Bog Road residence and were anxious to check out what the Gilead Historical Society has accomplished with preserving the buildings.

Gilead Historical Society Receives $10,000 Grant

Gilead, Maine. The Gilead Historical Society has received a $10,000 grant from The Presumpscot Foundation, which in turn received a similar sum from Maine Community Foundation to support the completion of renovation of the Gilead Railroad Depot. The Maine Community Foundation is a statewide organization with offices in Ellsworth and Portland. It partners with donors and non-profits to strengthen Maine communities. For more information visit: www.mainecf.org or call 1-877-700-6800.

The 1851 Gilead Railroad Depot is the oldest rail related structure in Maine, and among the oldest in the United States. The restoration of this structure is a component of the Gilead Historical Society’s ongoing initiative to restore its historic village. The Gilead Historical Society was founded in 2004. To learn more about the Gilead Historical Society, or to support this effort with information, memorabilia or financial resources, please contact Linsley A. Chapman, Secretary at 207-836-2987 or email chapmal@hotmail.com.

From Gilead to Auburn-Back to Gilead

The first railroad station in Gilead was built in June 1851. It served as the depot until 1893. It was then moved eastward to be used as a baggage house. In 1950, the building became a track department section and tool house.

It remained at that site until 1991 when the Atlantic/St. Lawrence Railroad determined that the building was no longer needed and would be destroyed. This is when Ford Reiche acquired the building and moved it to Auburn, Maine. The station was brought back to Gilead, in January of 2011.

Route 2/Route 113

A few pictures and some explanations about the new intersection for Route 113. When Route 2 was redone and the bridge was constructed, Route 2 moved down river closer to the railroad trestle. The old bridge was torn down. The part of Route 2 that went by Gillander's (grey house), Cy Cole's (white house-now Hayward's) and the Evan's Notch Motel became Rt. 113. The intersection to turn onto Rt. 113 is just West of Rosaire's Corriveau's house. The motel is just visible from the new Rt. 2 now. On the West side of Wild River, the old Rt. 2 still goes to where the bridge was. There is a turnout and fishermen can still park there. At some point, I can post pictures of that area.

Friends and Family Day

Friends & Family Day

Sponsored by the Gilead Historical Society

Gilead, Maine

FMI 207-836-2987

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Civil War Theme

10:00am: Children’s Parade-Depot Street, Gilead Maine

10:00am-Noon: Bobo T. Clown-by the Town Hall

Noon: Presentations-Town Hall

Bible and the Memory Quilt

1:00pm: 12th NHV Regiment Serenade Band-Tent

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Buy lunch from the Gilead Fire Dept. and join your Friends and Family under the big tent

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The Children’s Parade, as always, is for all those ‘young at heart’.

Please feel free to dress up and join in.

The Gilead Fire Dept. will be doing an extrication demonstration in the morning.

The presentation for the Bible will be done by members of the West Parish Congregational Church. The bible from the church in Gilead, that was torn down, has been at their church for safe keeping. They felt it should be returned to Gilead.

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The Memory Quilt that is being created by Linda Taylor, from all the squares that were sold by supporters of the Gilead Historical

Society, will be presented for viewing at Noon, also.

March 29th Meeting-2009

The GHS met at the Town Hall at 1:00pm and there were 13 members present and Laney, who is an honorary member. It was decided to hold Friends and Family Day again this year. We are a small group, but are hoping that if we keep the events of the day to a minimum and get some volunteer help from members of the community, we can make this happen again. Anyone interested in helping out should contact any member of the GHS (A couple of suggestions-Lin 836-2987 or Bev 836-2032).

The Gilead Fire Dept. will be on hand to sell hamburgs, hotdogs, french fries, etc. There will be a children’s parade (theme-Historical Character), Music, kid’s games, clown, raffles (homemade quilt), historical displays (info on old houses in the area) and baked goods for sale. There will also be a short lecture at the end of the day on the publications that have been done by the GHS. The latest book was presented at this meeting. The title of the newest book is “The Cemeteries of Gilead, Maine”, compiled by Hugh and Lin Chapman. The information was gathered over the past three years and finally made it into book form this past month. It includes information from the stones of all four cemeteries in Gilead and the private ones as well. It is a wealth of information for anyone working on genealogy. It was decided that the proceeds from the book would go to purchasing signs for the cemeteries. This is pending until approval of the Selectmen is received.

A few of the recent items that have been acquired by the GHS were presented to the members and then the group was asked to vote on accepting another gift. Steve and Lise McLain have decided to donate the McLain lot on the corner of Depot and Bridge Street to the GHS. Most or all of the building will be removed and the lot will be made ready for future use by the GHS.

The newsletter will be going out to members in mid to late April.

Gilead Historical Society

Howard Reiche

Howard Reiche

The Freight Shed-Shelter for the Baggage Wagon

The Freight Shed-Shelter for the Baggage Wagon

The Freight Shed-Shelter for the Baggage Wagon

2022 Annual Meeting-Garden

The Baggage Wagon

The Baggage Wagon

2022 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2021 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2020 Annual Meeting

2019 Annual Meeting

2019 Annual Meeting

2019 Friends and Family Day

2019 Friends and Family Day

2019 Friends and Family Day

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Friends & Family Day

Raffle Prizes-2018

White Mountain National Forest

2017 Friends and Family Day Program

2016 Friends and Family Day

2015 Friends and Family Day

Dedication at Friends and Family Day 2014

Dedication at Friends and Family Day

Dedication at Friends and Family Day

2014 Friends & Family Day

Sign

New GHS Sign

2013 Annual Meeting

2013 Annual Meeting

Friends and Family Day

Schoolhouse with new lights

Taken at Dusk

All Lights On!

Beautiful Sight!

Schoolhouse

Train Station

GHS Visitors

Visitors from Belgium

2012 Historic Preservation Award

Receiving Award

Sign is Up!

Close Up

More schoolhouse pictures

Schoohouse

Painting of the Schoolhouse

Friends and Family Day

2012 Friends and Family Day

Edith Quimby's Organ

Inside the Schoolhouse

Railroad Station

Ready for Customers

Inside the Railroad Station