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Historical Significance of Bath, Maine
Freight Shed
by Andrew Cushing
In
1849, the Portland and Kennebec Railroad extended its tracks north from
Brunswick, where the Bath branch operated as a terminus due to the Kennebec
River’s width discouraging further track expansion. In 1871, however, the City invested
heavily into founding the Knox and Lincoln Railroad, which extended from the
Kennebec River to Rockland. Connecting the separate lines was a ferry service
until 1927’s construction of Carlton Bridge. In 1870 and 1890, the Maine
Central Railroad leased these two lines, respectively. These railroads allowed
Bath to ship its manufactured goods and to distribute received products. Such
enormous amounts of goods demanded a good-sized freight shed.
A
freight shed likely existed as early as the 1850s, but evidence of one does not
appear at the current location until an 1878 property map. Our freight shed can
be dated back to 1890, when the Maine Central Railroad invested heavily into
Bath’s railroad infrastructure. A new station in 1889, followed by a new
freight shed and engine house in 1890 are mentioned in the Maine Central’s
Annual Reports (1890 Annual Report
22). Again, in 1892, the Annual Report stated that a freight shed was erected
in Bath; this was either an entirely new one, or the second story construction
of the adjacent building (1892 Annual
Report 12). Images from the 1927 bridge construction indicate that a second
story addition flanked the South elevation—a fact supported by the 1896 Sanborn
Insurance Maps which show dimensions much longer than today’s shed. This
addition reflects the sheer amount of freight transacted at Bath during the
turn of the twentieth century.
This addition disappeared by the
1940s—slow business during the Depression likely encouraged its razing in favor
of moving the offices into the south end of the original structure. Tax records
state that the freight shed in its entirety dates to 1938; perhaps this was
when the building was consolidated. Indeed, the features on the interior of the
office wing reflects a late 1930s/early 1940s renovation. The 1940s also saw a
renewed interest (with the end of the Depression) from the Maine Central in
investing in its buildings. 1941 witnessed a new passenger station in Bath,
realigned siding, and Bath Iron Works expansion. This redevelopment may have
facilitated the consolidation of the freight house, too. (The commemorative
ticket for the grand opening of the “New Bridge” omits the two-story addition,
but this may have been artistic license.)
The building’s industrial
character, while lacking in architectural ornamentation and grace consistent
with the railroad station (both 1941’s brick station and its predecessor),
should not be inferred as a lack of importance Bath placed on its industrial
infrastructure. The freight shed’s location near the Kennebec River’s ferry
crossing and close proximity to the Customs House shows thoughtful placement.
Indeed, the symbolism of the freight house replacing the function of the
Customs House is striking. Furthermore, Bath owed its existence to being easily
accessible—by boat, train, or automobile. The freight shed’s proximity to the
Custom’s House and Carlton Bridge creates a powerful connection between Bath’s
key role in Maine’s transportation and cargo industry. For this reason, the
freight shed deserves to return as an important and integral player in Bath’s
daily life.
References:
Bath Historical Society. The Sesquicentennial of Bath, Maine:
1847-1997. Bath Historical Society, 1997.
Chase, Edward E. Maine Railroads. Portland, ME: published
by author and Beyer & Small, 1926.
Drummond, Josiah H. The Maine Central Railroad System: An Uncompleted Historical Sketch. 1902.
Maine Central Railroad Annual Reports. Portland, ME. 1878-1940.
http://bath.mainememory.net/page/938/display.html
http://mainepreservation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Freight-Sheds-RR-Bldgs.pdf
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