History: Narratives

Introduction

Main story is how RR affected life and business in Wolfeboro and surrounding towns at from 1850s to 1936. Narratives are mainly of two types:

Economic Sector Themes
Railroad related themes
Individual Buildings and the people who lived and worked there, and how they tie in to the various themes

Stories can be about Industries, buildings, etc. What buildings are useful in telling the story?

Narratives available via QR codes and on tablets will be like power point presentations, photos, text, outlines, …

So far time period is from before train came to town, to at least the switch over from steam to diesel: 1872-1936.

Overview

			
Economic Growth and Industrialization: The railroad facilitated the transport of raw materials such as timber, granite, and other natural resources, which were abundant in New Hampshire. This ease of transport allowed local industries to expand and thrive, particularly in sectors like timber and textiles, which were major components of New Hampshire's economy. Mills and factories could ship their products to larger markets more efficiently, thereby increasing their production and profitability.
Population Movement and Urbanization: Railroads made it easier for people to move between locations, contributing to urban growth as people migrated from rural areas to towns and cities in search of better economic opportunities. This migration was encouraged by the job opportunities created by new industries that sprang up around railroad hubs. Towns such as Manchester, Nashua, and Concord expanded significantly during this era, transforming into bustling urban centers.
Development of Infrastructure: The advent of the railroad necessitated the development of additional infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and public buildings, which in turn facilitated more economic activities and improved the overall quality of life. Railroad stations became focal points around which commercial activities clustered, leading to the development of new businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and retail shops.
Tourism and Recreation: The railroad also opened up New Hampshire’s picturesque landscapes to tourists, particularly the White Mountains and lakes regions. This spurred the development of the tourism industry, with the establishment of hotels, resorts, and other leisure facilities. The accessibility provided by the train services made New Hampshire a popular destination for city dwellers from Boston and other nearby urban centers looking for vacation retreats.
Cultural Exchange and Communication: Enhanced transportation facilitated greater movement of not just goods and people, but also ideas. This contributed to a cultural exchange between rural and urban areas and between New Hampshire and other parts of the country. It also improved communication, making it easier to distribute newspapers and literature, which helped in educating the populace and shaping public opinion.
Agricultural Changes: Railroads impacted agriculture by providing farmers with access to new markets. This often led to shifts in farming practices, with farmers starting to grow more cash crops that were in demand in urban markets rather than just producing for local consumption.

		

Museum Exhibit Design

Upland Exhibits: How to write a museum exhibit script
Upland Exhibits: Museum Design Guides
Hoverlay – Holographic Docents

Maps

Google Map with Points on Historical Layout (Updated 2025-05-12)
Cotton Valley Rail Trail Map
Sanborn Maps [Library of Congress] [MIT][Dartmouth]
NH Railroad Map 1894
Boston, Concord, and Montreal Railroad 1845

Layout

See the Design page for latest design details
Building Outlines (.zip) – extract to
c:/users/public/public documents/3rd Planit/Standard Library or equivalent

Historical HO Layout

Stations

Buildings

Bridges

Narratives

Brian Dame on the Wolfeboro Railroad
Logging Railroads, Lincoln NH

Buildings:

Spreadsheet of Buildings, Locations, Industries, etc. (Updated 2025-04-10)

Boston MA

Portsmouth NH

Dover NH

Dover Map 1877 1888
Central Park – Video

Rochester NH

Railroad History
The Golden Age of Trolleys 1901-1926 – Video
Hospital – Video
Parson Maine Statue – Video
Rochester’s Central Square – Video
Post Office – Video
Public Library – Video
Easter Sunday Fire 1930 – Video
Circus Train Crash 1928 – Video
The Rise of Hot Air Balloons – Video
1899 Stores & Businesses – Video
Wallace Shoe Factory Explosion 1884 – Video
Spaulding High School 1939 – Video
Band Stand 1914 – Video
Untold Stories of the Museum – Video

Wakefield/Sanbornville (Wolfeboro Junction)

Wolfeboro NH

Wolfeboro Place Names, Bowers, edited by Gene Denu 2021
Wolfeboro Downtown Historic Walking Tour
Basic History of Wolfeboro Buildings by Gene Denu
Wolfeboro Historic Resources 2024 by Ms. Mausolf with WHC, NHDHR Format
Libby Natural History Museum

Ossipee

Ossipee Historical Society Photos
Exploring Abandoned Track – Ossipee NH

Carroll County

Carrol County Map 1861 1860

New Hampshire

White Mountains

Leavitt’s Map of the White Mountains 1871

Industries:

Construction

Sears House Kits 1908-1940

Tourism

Steamboats and Railroads made Wolfeboro a tourist destination.
Skiing – Ski Train
Summer Camps
Resorts
Restaurants
Lodging – Hotels, Cabins, Motels
Camping
Hiking
Water Sports
Boating

Farming

Mail Delivery

USA + Eastern RR Contract for Daily Mail Delivery on Wolfeboro Branch 1874
Mail Bag Pickup by Moving Train 1903

Electric Utility

Wolfeboro Municipal Electric

Fuels

Water Power
Wind Power
Wood
Coal
Petroleum

Forestry

When wood was the sole source of building materials and fuel, most of the area’s land was cleared of forests. The landscape must have looked very different then, with few trees. Most of the land was divided up by stone walls for pasture and farming. As the use of coal for fuel increased, the forests regrew.

Logging Railroads of Lincoln NH

Mining

Mica Mining

Transportation

Shank’s Mare (Walking)
Horse Powered
Canal Boat
Steam Powered – Steamboat, Railroad
Internal Combustion

Ice Harvesting

Bristol Maine

Circus Trains

Wikipedia: Circus Train
Ringling Bros. 1927 – 1990s
What happened to mile long circus trains? – Video

Railroads

Boston & Maine Railroad (1841-1964)
Boston, Concord & Montreal (1844-1890)
Concord & Montreal Railroad (1889-1919)
Dover & Winnipisseogee Railroad (1839-1941)
Eastern Rail-road Company (1836-1890)
Eastern Railroad (1836-1899)
Great Falls & Conway Railroad (1844-1865)
Portsmouth, Great Fails, and Conway Railroad (1865-1890)

See Nashua City Station