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.....It arrived in 1853. It was huge and billowed smoke and soot and steam. It had a loud roar. Sometimes it crept slowly and made a clickity-clackity noise. Other times it sped along at a rapid pace. It would make a shrill whistling sound as it approached. It was the Boston, Concord and Montreal railroad entering Woodsville, New Hampshire.
.....It’s route was from Plymouth through Wentworth to Warren. It was supposed to connect between Haverhill Corner and Newbury, Vermont, to the Connecticut & Passumpsic Rivers Railroad Company. Haverhill Corner, at that time was the center of commerce in the township.
.....Unfortunately the grading of the land was not favorable for this connection and the rails bypassed Haverhill Corner, went through North Haverhill to Woodsville. Here the double decker wooden bridge crossed the Connecticut and connected at Wells River, Vermont. Rail service in Wells River had been active for about five years.

..... The wooden bridge accommodated wagons and sleighs on the bottom level and the trains on the top level. And, it was a toll bridge. The wooden bridge was replaced with a steel one in 1904.

..... The round house was built overlooking the river. In 1907 it was completely destroyed by fire.

..... A steam plant was built at the location of the original engine house. It heated the Express building and the depot. A new roundhouse was built at the south end of town. Those my age remember Central Street, or Main street as I knew it, ended at Beech. You had to turn right on Beech, go one block and turn left on Smith street. You would soon come to the "Dry Bridge" whick crossed over the tracks below.

..... The new roundhouse was a busy place. The turntable was constantly directing engines into empty stalls for service or repair.

..... There were about a hundred trains a day coming and going in Woodsville. The depot was once of the busiest in the area.

.....The depot burned in 1921.

.....The depot was rebuilt , another floor was added and it sported a new flat roof!

.....And then it happened. In the late 1950's it was all over. The tracks were torn up and the depot soon became a paint and wallpaper store.

.....In later years it was purchased by Liz and Kevin Shelton and the "Party Store" is one of the most heavily trafficed store in town.

.....Will the railroad ever come back? That is doubtfull. But trains, if only as a vision of yester-years, may. Haverhill Heritage Commission is in the process of having a caboose moved here. It will be located between the old depot and express building locations. It will be restored we intend it to be used for children's programs and as a tourist attraction. At this location the newly restored covered bridge, the Haverhill-Bath Covered Bridge, should be highly visible.

.....The railroad may never come back, but the town is on it's way to a new center of activity and enjoyment. The Railroad park is sporting a new Kiosk, compliments of HHC, a beautiful log stage where folks have been enjoying concerts by many talented local bands, playground equipment is on it's way, plans to enclose the park with fencing, a walking path, and lighting, are in the works!
.....On the slopes boarding the park and both the Connecticut and Ammonoosuc Rivers will host nature walks, accessible fishing areas, picnic spots the entire family can enjoy, historical sites and a good view of the famous No Man's Island!
.....Woodsville is making a move into the future. Drop by and feel the enthusiasm!

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