Frenchville in Aroostook County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
The "Potato Road" / La route «des patates »
Did you know? Water towers were once a common sight along rail tracks. Frenchville’s 55,000 gallon 1910 water tower is one of the last remaining in the U.S. Coal heat kept it from freezing. When diesel engines replaced steam-powered locomotives, water towers were no longer needed.
1958-1981: The redwood tank is re-purposed by creative thinkers (patenteux) to serve the Frenchville fire department as a reservoir.
Millions of tons of spuds shipped by rail. Beginning in 1905, farmers could deliver their harvest to the many potato houses lining the tracks. The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad's potato haul grew from 47,500 tons in 1894 to 300,000 in 1914 and peaked at 899,000 tons in 1930.
Interstate 95 came to Houlton in 1968. Shipping crops by truck grew and led to the close of Frenchville's station here in 1971.
Visit a Bangor and Aroostook Station at Fort Kent Historical Society, and a rare existing railway turntable at St. Francis Historical Society.
Le saviez-vous? On trouvait des citernes surélevées tout au long des voies de chemin de fer. Érigée en 1910, celle de Frenchville, d'une capacité de 200 000 litres, est une des dernières des États-Unis. Un brûleur au charbon l'empêchait de geler en hiver. On les a mises à la retraite en même temps que les locomotives à vapeur après l'apparition des moteurs diesel.
1958 à 1981 : La citerne cèdre rouge de l’ouest s’est trouvée un nouvel usage comme réservoir d’eau pour le Service incendie de Frenchville.
Des millions de tonnes de patates expédiées par train. À partir de 1905, les producteurs ont pu livrer leur récolte à un des nombreux entrepôts de patates situés le long de la voie ferrée. Les cargaisons de patates transportées par la Bangor & Aroostook sont passées de 47 500 tonnes en 1894 à 300 000 tonnes en 1914 avec une pointe à 899 000 tonnes en 1930.
La I-95 a atteint Houlton en 1968. L'expédition des récoltes par camion s'est imposée, ce qui a entraîné la fermeture de la gare en 1971.
Visitez la gare de la Bangor & Aroostook à la Société historique de Fort Kent et la plaque tournante pour locomotive, presque unique en son genre, à la Société historique de St. Francis.
Erected 2014 by Maine Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars.
Location. 47° 16.795′ N, 68° 23.328′ W. Marker is in Frenchville, Maine, in Aroostook County. Marker is on Main Street (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles east of Felix Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located in a pull-out on the north side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 US Highway 1, Frenchville ME 04745, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "Smuggling is Not a Sin" / « La contrebande n'est pas-un péché! » (here, next to this marker); Farming Then & Now / L'agriculture d'hier à aujourd'hui (here, next to this marker); Frenchville Railroad Station & Water Tank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); La paroisse de Ste. Luce 150e anniversaire (approx. 1.8 miles away); Archibald Fraser (approx. 6.7 miles away in Canada); Saint David Catholic Church (approx. 11.4 kilometers away); Du Premier Débarquement des Acadiens àu Madawaska (approx. 11.4 kilometers away); Genealogy, Massive French & Acadian Family Reunions (approx. 11.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frenchville.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 324 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 12, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 6. submitted on April 13, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.