Circa prior 1915 Here is a photo that was sent to me by Linda Blackman from Harrisburg. She now owns the Stonefort depot and has some family photos dating back almost 100 years. Don't have dates on this picture, but as a result of her correspondence with the National Archives, we now know that it is prior to 1915. This is the same basic structure that exists today (we counted and compared the batten boards and window arrangement on the south facade of the building), but it was enlarged and expanded by the Big 4 in 1915, to include a bay window facing the tracks and a much larger freight house on the North end of the depot. CAPT Rex Settlemoir Linda Blackman Collection.
Very nice to see that the building was so well preserved. The old roadbed certainly is evident, though I think I see only the main's roadbed, but I can't make out that of the siding. The location of the station, being sort of isolated, reminds of an old B&M station in Farmington, NH. B&M abandoned the line and removed the rails sometime arround WW-II, but the station remained and became a residence. What is similar to Stonefort is that the Farmington station is isolated in the middle of a field, about 100 yards from the highway with nothing around it except the driveway and a few bushes.
Another "Then & Now" beauty, Roger...Thanks again. Am I seeing/thinking correctly that these are opposite sides (Front & Back) of the station? Bob C.
Very nice. Thanks for the post. Charlie, Yes, that is a signal post. It was on the side of the building in the old photo. Bob C. As stated by Roger a bay window was inserted in the wall. This new photo is not the 'other' side. It is the same side as the original old photo. The decking is gone and so are the tracks. The tie depressions can still be seen. Another clue is the back of the building on the right corner. In the old photo you can see it is supported by beams probably. In the new photo it looks like the original leveling is now concrete. Jim
Thanks for another interesting post, Roger. Are you getting some of these directly from Captain Rex Settlemoir? I noticed that he was quite a contributor to George Elwood's historic site. :tb-confused:
Yes, I'm getting these directly from him. I will be a little slow in replying as I'm now on dial up as my main system went down.
