Historic Wakefield NH

NEW!

Heritage sites open

for the season with a Water Tower Dedication Ceremony

June 23 at 11 a.m.

Our origin

Save the Date

Boston & Maine Railroad Water Tower Dedication 

& Wakefield Heritage Commission's 25th Anniversary celebration

The official website of the town of wakefield heritage commission

The public is invited to attend a very special day of events on Saturday, June 23, 2018, at Heritage Park, One Chapel Street, in Union. 

The Commission will host a dedication ceremony of the last authentic Boston & Maine Railroad Water Tower—relocated from Lake Shore Park in Gilford and restored at Union Station last year. The celebration continues following the ceremony with a cookout, music by the local Moose Mountain Jazz Band, and docent tours of Union Station, the Freight House and its wonderful HO scale model of the B&M Railroad as it served the five villages of Wakefield circa 1909, and more.

Over the past 25 years, we've worked to keep our local history alive. With Town of Wakefield, private donor and volunteer elbow grease and financial support, our restorations include Union Station and the Freight House—the heart and soul of the Heritage Park Railroad Museum-- the Spinney Meeting House, the Heritage Centre at Wakefield Corner/Lovell Union Grange Hall, and Newichawannock Canal—designated the town's second National Historic District!

The dedication ceremony begins at 11 a.m. with guest speakers. Prior to the dedication ceremony, railroad veteran and Conway Scenic Railroad founder Dwight Smith will give a presentation at the Freight House at 10 a.m.

​​Established in 1993, the Wakefield Heritage Commission has developed plans to restore areas of the community that reflect the importance of Wakefield in transportation, manufacturing, and farming. With the generous support of volunteers, financial donors, and grants, the first building constructed in the village of Sanbornville, the Garvin Building, was restored. Upon completion, the Wakefield Heritage Commission sold the Garvin Building. It remains a focal point and tribute to the history of the community. In recent years, the Commission, thanks to a small army of talented and generous volunteers, has restored Union Station and the Freight House in Union, the Lovell-Union Grange, and the Spinney Meeting House. In 2014, the Newichawannock Bridge and Canal, built in 1868, was designated as the town's second National Historic District and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Boston & Maine Railroad veteran and Conway Scenic Railroad founder Dwight Smith will be the guest speaker on Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Freight House. This will be opening day at Heritage Park Railroad Museum, with special activities planned including a dedication of the Boston & Maine Water Tower at 11 a.m.

Dwight will be presenting a new PowerPoint program titled "Before and After" describing how a group of volunteers resurrected an abandoned track and run down rolling stock, locomotives, and structures at the former Boston & Maine branch-line terminal at North Conway. Dwight is very knowledgeable on railroads in northern New England, with numerous publications, and an extensive collection of historical photographs he took during the transition years of both steam and diesel power. 

During Dwight's presentation in the Freight House, the museum layout itself will intentionally be closed to visitors. It will immediately open after the presentation. The presentation is free and open to the public. All are welcome to this interesting and entertaining presentation.

a special presentation by Railroad expert dwight smith 

Union Station 

The original station was built approximately in 1854 and replaced by a new station in 1911. This station served as a passenger embarkation and debarkation point for local people, and for many years housed the Union Post Office. Today, Union Station houses numerous artifacts, photographs and antiques related to the region's manufacturing, ice harvesting and railroading heritage.  

Model Railroad Project

Make sure to visit the Heritage Park Railroad Museum this season and marvel at the HO scale model of the Boston and Maine Railroad as it served the five villages of Wakefield in 1909. The model was painstakingly researched for historical accuracy. A team of volunteer ferroenquinologists, which means "students of the iron horse," has dedicated countless hours and resources to the project, which has been in the works for nearly four years. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the craftsmanship!  Click on the link to the "1909 B&M Railroad Model" above for more information and photos.