Business leaders in nearby norwich also saw an opportunity to share in the economic boom associated with railroads and organized a stock company to construct a railroad linking long island sound with boston via norwich and worcester. Sep 02, 2009 in 1867, the boston and worcester railroad changed its name to boston and albany railroad as service was extended all the way to albany, ny. There are many books on railroad history available to you, but none can give. Fascinating history of bostons railroad stations and terminals. Providence and worcester railroad pw was incorporated in massachusetts on march 12, 1844 st. City of worcester is responsible for parking garage snow removal, maintenance and fee collection. From court house to round house perspectives on worcester. In 1867, the boston and worcester railroad changed its name to boston and albany railroad as service was extended all the way to albany, ny. Worcester police are investigating after twin baby boys were found near railroad tracks early wednesday morning, authorities said.
Boston and worcester street railway post by aline1969. History for tons of information about railroad stocks, go see terry at and buy his book. He acquired the train symbol nickname wx1 for his frequent research trips between worcester, keene, and bellows falls, vt. Fascinating history of boston s railroad stations and terminals. While the collection is of great interest in regard to railroad history, it also holds value as a resource. Compiled from locations filed in 18378 at the office of the county clerk, worcester, mass. The boston and albany railroad was formed between 1867 and 1870 from the merger of three existing lines, the boston and worcester chartered 1831, the western 1833, and the castleton and west stockbridge 1834. Beginning date 1832 ending date 1867 former title report of the directors of the boston and worcester railroad corporation to the stockholders together with the report of john m. Although slavery was illegal in northern states, the fugitive slave act passed in 1793 and 1850 make it legal for slave hunters to travel to free states and capture runaway slaves. Boston and albany railroad engineering department map collection. Transportation worcester historical museum worcester. Worcester in the precivil war era, the underground railroad quietly chugged through the northern united states and created a historical role for worcester. The state, the investor, and the railroad the bo by. Manchesters railroads 1965 1990 by rick kfoury 2019.
Traveling the underground railroad in massachusetts. Plans showing deed and old location lines of the western railroad in the county of worcester and state of mass. His book is as close to a standard catalog as we have in scripophily. Sep 03, 2011 the hayden house in boston is one of the most well documented stations on the underground railroad. The state, the investor, and the railroad the boston. This vintage postal cover is in naer fine condition with very light wear, opened at the top and side. The original providence terminal was at fox point, from which it ran east along the seekonk river shore and over the river via the india point railroad bridge into.
Annual report of the directors of the boston and worcester. A fearful catastrophe occurred on the boston railroad this forenoon, two miles east of this city, caused by the breaking of an axle. Guild, william, map detailing miles 94100 west of boston on the boston and worcester railroad and the western railroad, in a chart and description of the boston and worcester and western railroads boston. Portland and rochester, and worcester and nashua railroads, most of which themselves were. Lines in east boston and of the building of stations in framingham, worcester. The two statechartered companies merged on november 25, 1845, as the providence and worcester railroad company. Terry has centralized and organized more information about railroad certificates than anyone else. Since the berkshires made construction of a canal infeasible, boston turned to the emerging railroad technology for a share of the freight to and from the midwestern united states. The charter of the boston and providence was granted june 22nd, 1831, and that of the boston and worcester, june 23rd, 1831, with several others about the same time, which were never used. Boston and maine railroad railroad history and classic. See more ideas about massachusetts, train and railroad pictures. Boston and maine railroad new york, new haven and hartford railroad co. Coit and those run by the boston and providence owned by cornelius. The underground railroad was a series of safe houses that stretch from the south all the way to canada these safe houses provided shelter and protection for runaway slaves trying to find freedom in the north.
It merged with the western railroad corporation in 1867 to form. Massachusetts narrow the results by county barnstable berkshire bristol dukes essex franklin hampden hampshire middlesex nantucket norfolk plymouth suffolk worcester. By 1835 there were three railroad systems opened in massachusetts. Its opening jumpstarted worcesters rapid transition from agriculture to industry, and introduced the irish to town, the first of many immigrant groups that were to come in search of work and new homes. Nov 16, 2019 construction at norwich began november 18, 1835.
The haydens purchased the house in the 1850s and turned it into a boarding house. The boston and worcester railroad corporation was incorporated in massachusetts in 1831. City of worcester offers additional parking at nearby open lots. Worcester is approximately 40 miles 64 km west of boston, 50 miles 80 km east of springfield and 40 miles 64 km. Within a year, massachusetts interests had secured approval for the necessary rail link from. The railroads connection between new haven, connecticut. The abandoned railroad was sold off, covered over, and otherwise forgotten.
Railroad scripophily collection certificate collector. Lessee as of 1956 0429, from employee timetable no. The boston and worcester railroad was chartered june 23, 1831 and construction began in august 1832. These images constitute a record of the companys construction activities, rolling stock, stations, and specialized equipment from the late 1890s until approximately 1920. Readers are invited to consult the tables and links below and submit additions, corrections, photos, and comments to make this a. Passenger service is still provided on the line by amtrak, as part of their lake shore limited service, and by the mbta. Map, available online, plans showing deed and old location. Passenger service is still provided on the line by amtrak, as part of their lake shore limited service, and by the mbta commuter rail. This house was owned by an escaped slave, lewis hayden, and his wife harriet. Underground railroad ran through worcester news telegram. Fascinating history of the norwich and worcester railroad which ran between norwich, connecticut and worcester, massachusetts as well as the steamboats that connected norwich to new york city. In 1965, the federal governments newly formed urban mass transportation administration umta, now known as the.
Connecticuts early railroad history had at its core the goal of linking new york city and boston through a hybrid system of steamboats and trains. Deed and location lines of the western railroad in worcester county, mass. Though the railroad was only in operation from 19121937, it was an important part of westchester county history. The railroad system in and around framingham ca 1910. The railroad connects from gardner in central massachusetts, south through its namesake cities of worcester and providence, rhode island, and west from rhode island through connecticut and into new york city. Long distance passenger trains, pooled by the nh and the boston and maine railroad, the bar harbor. The providence and worcester railroad reporting mark pw nasdaq. Heald has written several books on the history of new hampshire. The mbta, or the t, was voted into law on august 3, 1964, becoming the first combined regional transit system in the u. Transportation worcester historical museum worcester historical.
After 1900, the old colony railroad lines came under the control of the new york, new haven and hartford system. These three, the lowell, the providence, and the worcester, were the pioneer railroads of the state. Like the mta, the mbta was formed as a state agency. The corporation was a primary eastwest transit through the commonwealth, with branches connecting towns including athol, ware, north adams, and hudson, n. The main line, built by the boston and worcester street railway, was an interurban streetcar line partly on the old boston and worcester turnpike now route 9 and partly on private rightofway. Iron roads of the monadnock region historical society of. Named after worcester, england, as of the 2010 census the citys population was 181,045, making it the secondmost populous city in new england after boston.
I was rereading for the umpteenth time don balls book portrait of the rails. Contrary to past assumptions, the author details how the road was built less as a way to compete with new york city and more because of a desire by boston and springfield businessmen to open up the interior of massachusetts to industrial development to replace the aging agricultural. The boston and worcester railroad was chartered june 23, 1831 and. Boston and worcester street railway post by aline1969 mon jun 23, 2008 12. Within a year, massachusetts interests had secured approval for the necessary rail link from worcester to boston. Guidebook to the boston and worcester and western railroads. Boston and worcester railroad corporation records, 18311882. Each of these pioneer railroad lines ran from boston to a major population center. Apr 14, 2017 worcester in the precivil war era, the underground railroad quietly chugged through the northern united states and created a historical role for worcester.
While the collection is of great interest in regard to railroad history, it also holds. The boston and albany railroad was formed by a series of mergers beginning in 1867 that subsumed both the first commercial line in new england, the boston and worcester railroad chartered 1831 and the western railroad 1833, the most important line in western massachusetts. Railroad stations in massachusetts, now in its twentysecond year, is a site devoted to the history, location, and uses of railroad depots, whether still standing or long gone, throughout the thirteen counties of massachusetts. Long after the line was converted to buses, boston and. Twin babies found near railroad tracks in worcester. Location of the boston and worchester railroad, 1835. Until 1899, when south station opened, the boston terminal was at park square, with a crossing at grade of the boston and worcester railroad at the current merge at back bay station. Railroad extra history of the railways of massachusetts. Boston and albany railroad map collection finding aid. Our society has published several books about the boston and maine railroad.