History of railroad discussed

BETHEL - On November 4, Douglas I. Hodgkin, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Bates College, presented an illustrated talk about the Grand Trunk Railway branch line that was opened to Auburn and Lewiston, in July 1874. This important railway extension was made possible thanks to $300,000 in capital stock raised by local businessmen and residents after a charter for the "Lewiston and Auburn Railroad" was granted by the Maine Legislature in 1872 and became "an economic engine" for the region. Until New England's position as a leader in the textile industry was displaced by the "New South," the cotton mills located here made extensive use of this railroad route to ship their products, and thousands of French Canadian immigrants passed through the doors of Lewiston's Grand Trunk depot (1873), which survives today. The 5.4 mile branch line maintained passenger service until 1956. Reflecting the national decline of railroads in the late 20th century, the rail yards on each side of the bridge over the Androscoggin were abandoned, but later became parks. In recent years, intermodal transportation technology has revived the railroad to the extent that it again has become a player in the economic development of the region. Claims are now made that Auburn has become the "hub of Maine."

Professor Hodgkin, whose ancestors were among the original settlers of Lewiston, is a native of the city and a graduate of Lewiston High School. Following his graduation from Yale University, he received his Ph.D. from Duke University. For 34 years, he was a political science professor at Bates College. Now Emeritus Professor at Bates, he has written, lectured and published extensively on Lewiston history. He has also been active as editor of the newsletter of the Androscoggin Historical Society and has served on the Lewiston Historic Preservation Review Board.

Following his presentation, which was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council, Hodgkin autographed a number of his books for his appreciative audience.