Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Rev. George M. Park’s “Presque Isle History”. Mr. Park died in 1929. Mr. Park’s notes were typed at the library and the book was updated when Mrs. Beulah Akeley was librarian (1928-1945). Permission to reprint the article was granted by Park’s grandson, Larry Park, who farms near Echo Lake.
When Hon. A.A. Burleigh had that vision which resulted in the building of over 500 miles of the Bangor and Aroostook through and over the county, it was the greatest enterprise or achievement which had ever been undertaken, excepting possibly the Ashburton Treaty or the Aroostook War. Up to this time, nothing had been launched or proposed for the great six thousand, five hundred miles now known and recognized as “The Garden of Maine”, the land of opportunity, unsurpassed in its great crop production in the nation. How many of our most intelligent citizens saw the magnitude of this undertaking, continued wrapped up in its realization of their plans and purpose? Or how many foresee like what remains within the undeveloped region of 100 townships of northwestern Aroostook now awaiting A.R. Gould’s projected electric railroad.
We have often wondered, if in the broad forecast or outlook, Mr. Burleigh himself saw the outline or greatness or ever a glimmer of its bigness in wealth, crop production, business transportation, banks, large villages, schoolhouses, miles of potato houses, or farm machinery sale houses, this railroad was to open and establish? How many small settlements were to be transformed into live and growing villages, adding uncomputed wealth and population to our country and state, and the size of which no man can tell or foresee.
He was the only man, so well known and universally trusted; one who served his county and state in so many official positions of responsibilities, and because of his long and personal acquaintances, with the people all over the county, in every town and remote townships, there was such implicit confidence. It was only such a man who could have commanded such a following and united endorsement as was indicated by the vote for the Permissive Bill—to loan the credit of the country for $500,000. This, at the time, was a remarkable endorsement of the enterprise and of the promoter. Its influence was both far-reaching and so unanimous, it spoke in no uncertain expression of the willing co-operation, but of a strong and long-felt desire of Aroostook citizens to be no longer shut out of connection with the state of which they were a part.
At this time, it required a confidence in the promoter, the enterprise and in its success to endorse the people, even of a large county like Aroostook, to take upon itself an indebtedness of five hundred thousand dollars, which some said, would be an absolute loss or gift for the railroad. But it was for a great and needed achievement, upon its success, the growth and prosperity of the county depended, that it was the opportunity of opportunities such as had never been presented before and our citizens realized as never before, the need of a united effort. Our county papers supported it, urged it, and met all objections to the proposition. Their influence was very helpful in allaying any and all objections or questions of doubt, and stood by the promoter, as his plan and proposition came nearest to meeting the requirements of all sections hitherto proposed in all the weekly press, what otherwise would have been difficult, became a pleasant and easy effort.
It was my privilege, as chairman of the Pomona Grange Committee, to accompany Mr. Burleigh to the first two meetings held in Washburn and Mapleton, to present and discuss the merits of the Permissive Bill, by which bill the county was to lend its credit by issuing its bonds for five hundred thousand dollars, to aid in the construction of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad.
On our way to Washburn, I said to Mr. Burleigh, “Who is to speak first this afternoon?” Replying, he said, “You, of course, for I never made a speech in my life.” To which I replied, “Mr. Burleigh, if you never did, you are certainly in for it this afternoon, for what do I know about building railroads.” He said, “You must speak first.” Knowing as I did, the need of a direct railroad into the county from the outside parts of New England upon our own soil, and knowing how the people of Mars Hill and Blaine had to start early in the morning hauling their farm products to Houlton for railroad transportation and then have to go through a foreign land. I also knew how the six-horse teams on their way to and from Ashland to Fort Fairfield, and how the roads were cut up by heavy loads, hence the need of railroad facilities. I did the best I could.
Then Mr. Burleigh followed in a clear-cut speech, of his plan and purpose, how it was to be constructed and paid for, its benefits to all business, farming and the potato and starch industries, of about 35 minutes, in a most convincing business-like and telling address, which won the people to him and the object before them, men, women and Grangers, the largest and strongest organized body and perhaps the most difficult to convince in the county, to pledge the country’s credit for $500,000 and its endorsement of the undertaking.
It was wonderful to see how the people responded and flocked to the support of his proposition and assured him of their influence and cooperation in accomplishing what was to mean so much to the county, if it could be done.
It was, we are sure, the first time in the history of our citizens that men, women, editors, lawyers, preachers, teachers, and, we may say, all classes united in the assurance that a possible and practicable plan had been submitted, by which the long wished for railroad and its branches was to be recorded on our territory and by our own capitalist. To think that Aroostook’s long anticipations were to become a realization and its promoter an Aroostook man, born on Aroostook soil, educated in a rural town, known beloved, and trusted by his neighbors and friends, added confidence and satisfaction to the glad expectations. This had its influence and made it easier to accomplish than would have been a proposition coming from strangers. Let me here write that to any eye witness, it was surprising to see how all classes rallied to help to carry through this railroad project which promised so much to so many people, and was really the beginning of a new era in Aroostook’s great achievement.
When the obstacles, objections, and hindrances were so generally and satisfactorily met and easily overcome and moved inconsistent to the prospective welfare of the county’s future, and so blind to the new era before it, the making of new and enlarged villages, the permanent uplift and increase of valuable industries, adding banks, money, wealth, trade, schools and school buildings, churches, hospitals, places of entertainment and interests little presupposed.
Instead of reaching Bangor by a circuitous journey through another county and an all days’ ride, though a pleasant county, it was tiresome. Now we reach Bangor for dinner, Portland for supper, and Boston for lodging. Quite a change! A happy day! A valuable consummation!
The state legislature approved the Burleigh plan on March 19, 1891, and at the same time, an act was passed that for a period of 20 years from the passage of the act, no railroad should be built into Aroostook which should at any point, be less than 15 miles from the line of the B & A Railroad, provided that the B & A should, within three years from the passing of the act, have built its lines from Brownville or some point on the line of the Bangor and Katahdin Iron Works Railroad to Houlton, and have begun within two years, work on its line beyond Houlton, and within four years from the passage of the act have built its line to Presque Isle, Caribou and Fort Fairfield.
But it took many weary hours to finally raise the amount required to build the line but it was finally done and Presque Isle received its first B&A train in 1895.
The Aroostook Valley Railroad, an electric line, was built by Arthur Gould, who began construction in 1910. In the first year, it ran from Presque Isle to Washburn, but later was extended to New Sweden and Caribou.
Then in 1936, bus service was established, and later the “Aroostook Flyer” with comfortable, modern and fast service inaugurated. An effort was made some years ago by Mr. Arthur Gould to build an extension on the electric line, “Quebec Extension”, from Washburn to the Canadian boundary in western Aroostook, but the line was never built, which however, was through no fault of his, other interests killing the plan.
This proposed line, it would seem, would have been a great boon to Aroostook and opened up for redevelopment, the great wilderness of western Aroostook. But there may come a day when this great proposed project may be carried through.
Before 1880, there was an attempt to get the European and Northern American Railroad to extend their line into Aroostook County. They did. It touched the extreme southern part of the county and that’s all the people of Aroostook saw of it. The railroad received plenty of wild land in the deal. David Dudley, Presque Isle’s representative to the state legislature at the time, vigorously opposed the railroad and made many enemies over it, but in the end, he appeared vindicated and completely in the right.
With three railroads running to Presque Isle, this city appears well provided by this means of transportation.