—by Don Hallenbeck, circa 2015
Don speaking outside the Depot.
The Maine Central Railroad used the building as a passenger station from approximately 1883 to 1954. The railroad last modified this wood frame building in the 1920’s.
Unique to the building is that all the upper window sashes are stained glass with a diamond shaped centerpiece. Most of the windows are original to the building with modern glass replacing only those that had been broken.
Railroad Express Occupancy
From about 1954 until the late 1960’s or early 1970’s, the building served as the office of the Railroad Express Agency (REA). Some time after the REA moved into the building, the owner had to put in his own heat and lights. The railroad had provided utilities from a freight office that once stood at the west end of the depot building.
A coal fired hot water radiator system was installed and a coal shed added to the street side of the depot. One bathroom was removed for this furnace and the remaining bathroom divided to provide storage space.
Other Uses
After the REA ceased using the building, a discount shoe store was planned for. The light globes were removed to prepare for a dropped ceiling. The shoe store never opened, the dropped ceiling was not installed and the light globes were lost.
In the mid- to late 1970s the YMCA used the depot building as a satellite location during the warmer months.
1976 Renovation
The Atheneum Club renovated the building in 1976 for The Depot House, Inc.—predecessor to the Pittsfield Historical Society. As part of the renovation, the track-side doors were removed
1983 Changes
The next major change occurred in 1983 when the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Pittsfield Historical Society took over the building as caretakers for the Town of Pittsfield.
The Pittsfield Public Library had housed historic artifacts in a room in its basement. When the library needed space for more books, the artifacts were moved to the depot, which was vacant at the time. With approval from the town council, the Depot House Museum was born.
About 1983 the old furnace and radiators were removed and the space converted to its current use as a storage area.
The Town of Pittsfield took over the building around 1983 and had blown-in cellulose insulation installed. Because of settling, additional insulation may now be required.
Occupancy
At first the building, having no heat, was occupied only during the warm weather months and closed to the public for the winter, with only staff going into work on getting artifacts ready for display in the next season and to catalog existing artifacts.
From the mid 1990’s until early 2000’s a small, trailer-sized gas furnace heated just the old railroad office area. This furnace, which was not used much due to operating cost, was removed when the town decided to install an oil fired hot air system.
Recent Repairs and Maintenance
The building has been in a slow decline since the major restoration in 1976 despite continuing efforts to preserve it. Society members painted the interior in 2000, which was no small feat given the height of the ceiling. Cianbro kindly provided staging that made the task easier. More recently Cianbro workers repaired the out-sized door facing the track and installed a crash bar required for emergency exits. The society purchased and a town crew installed a new front door complete with storm door, which improved security and aided heat retention during the heating season.
The town replaced the security system that the Edwards Company originally donated. Advances in technology had made it impossible to obtain replacement parts and the town installed a modern motion detector system and smoke detectors and upgraded the electrical system, complete with a new electrical panel and new wiring.
Finances
The society in recent years has consisted of a very small group of people. Our funds come from small donations from visitors, a few bequests, and fund raising efforts including the following sale items and events:
1. Audio Tapes of original songs about Maine by Clermont “Clum” Spencer
2. Calendars with pictures of historically significant buildings
3. Fuel Oil Raffle
4. Quilt raffles
5. CDs with articles and pictures from Pittsfield History)
6. Prints of scenes from town history
7. Bake Sales at 2009, 2010 & 2011 Election Polls and at Egg Festival Parades
8. Winter scarves made by members
9. Miscellaneous items offered on our Web site and at the museum
We have tried with funds from these and other projects to contribute to building preservation.
Structural problems
But the structure itself entered a critical stage of deterioration in 2009. Asphalt shingles have been
falling from the roof and clapboards have rotted and warped, pulling out their fasteners. Foundation walls have shifted and were breached at one point to add a coal storage shed since removed. Building codes have been revised that require structural changes. At some point a fire damaged beams supporting the roof so that at least some of them must be replaced. That’s why roof repairs will be more expensive than would have been necessary to merely replace the shingles.
Value of the Depot Today
Home to the Historical Society Collection The depot houses the historical society’s collection of Pittsfield-related artifacts. The original collection has grown as generous residents have donated items to bring the total entries recorded in our database to more than two thousand. The Pittsfield Historical Society leases the depot from the town for a nominal one dollar per year and members are caretakers for the collection and interpreters of town history for visitors (docents).
Bridge with the Past
The reasons to spend money on saving the depot include the diminishing number of these buildings in Maine, the significance of the railroad to the town’s history, the building’s prominent location in the center of town, the unusual stained glass windows, and, most of all, the memories long-time residents have of trips by train to Bangor, Waterville, and beyond.
