by Lyn Mikel Brown
International rail has been central to Vanceboro since its founding, shaping both local life and the broader national economy. During World War I, the St. Croix River trestle bridge was a portal to Canadian harbors and Europe so vital it was bombed by a German spy. The Vanceboro station and its once 10-track-wide yard were among the busiest in the country, with more than two dozen trains a day from both the U.S. and Canada. This busy rail activity continued here long after automobiles and trucks had begun to diminish rail travel elsewhere.
Yet Vanceboro’s key role in the transcontinental railroad remains largely unknown.
At the Vanceboro Historical Society, one of our goals is to bring that hidden history to light through engaging displays and educational programming. So, we were thrilled when board member Gene MacDonald generously donated his 12’x20’ unfinished railroad museum building—complete with artifacts, historic photos, railway records, display cabinets, a motorized “putt putt” railcar, and an original railroad signal. Located along the tracks in downtown Vanceboro, the building had been unused for years.
With Canadian Pacific now owning the land and freight traffic on the rise again, we made the decision to relocate the building to ensure its long-term preservation and public accessibility. After successfully applying for support from the Morton-Kelly Charitable Fund, we began preparations to transform the structure into a permanent, three-season interactive railroad exhibit.
Curator Alaine Peaslee-Hinshaw organized a team of local volunteers to move the building and putt putt to the lawn beside the VHS museum. She documented the effort and worked with the crew as they prepared and placed the building on skids and pulled it up the steep rise of Cobb Hill to its new home at the end of High Street.
Using traditional logging tools and techniques passed down through generations—peaveys, line-in bars, railroad spikes, tie tongs, and a deep understanding of balance points and fulcrum—the team safely positioned and leveled the building. Along with Alaine, thank you to Curty Scott, Billy Grass, David Scott, Harvey Day and Larry Sam Day for their collective effort.
Days later, a collection of board members, family and friends, many with deep ties to customs and a station and rail yard that once employed over 100 local men, gathered to renovate the building. Fueled by hot coffee and Donna’s homemade apple buckle, sandwiches and shared stories, the crew scraped and painted the building exterior, replaced rotting trim boards and broken windows, and wired the interior.
Alaine, ever the organizer, is already making a to-do list for our next work day: moving the signal, repairing drywall, repainting original railway station benches, painting and moving display cabinets, researching and building exhibits. There’s still much to be done, but with the support of Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust and the passion and work ethic of so many, our goal of preserving Vanceboro’s rich railroad history is within reach.
Deepest appreciation to all the board members and volunteers who helped move the building and putt putt and who offered services and gathered, not only to revitalize and wire the MacDonald building, but to work on other museum projects:
- Alaine Peaslee-Hinshaw for organizing the move and work day day, painting the building floor, and for supply, tool and task organization.
- Christopher Hinshaw for repairing the museum metal door and installing new storage closet shelves
- Mark Hyland for a donation request and S.W. Collins Lumber in Lincoln for the donation of exterior stain and painting supplies.
- Billy Grass for leveling the building, his speedy roof trim repair and, with Cory Beach, for providing the RR track rails for the putt putt car
- Faye Luppi, Mark and Matt Hyland for wiring the building.
- Enzo, Sara, and Lilly Cameli for long hours scraping, painting and to Enzo for photography transfer work
- Donna Beach Wright for showing up with homemade rolls and apple buckle!
- David Brown, Donna Beach Wright, Lyn Brown and Mark Tappan for painting the building exterior; also Lyn and Mark for lunch item purchases and Mark for the lunch roll out.
- Danny Beers and Holly’s General Store for broom set donation
- George and Susan (Crandlemire) Howard for storage unit space
- Elaine and Gene MacDonald for paint and use of their garage
Vanceboro Historical Society 