OLD COLONY RAILROAD

It’s been 85 years since  the Railroad  has passed through Marshfied.

Here is the last  Locomotive to pass through Marshfield, April 1939.

Financial troubles and the Great Depression helped to  folded the Old Colony’s,  Cohasset /Plymouth ,shore line.  This line was built from Cohasset  to Plymouth in 1871.

The wood fired Gov.Bradford engine pulling 3 passenger cars chugged it’ way from Boston to Plymouth carrying mostly Boston & Plymouth dignitary’s and Railroad big whigs.

It stopped at all  five of Marshfields Stations.

The first was at East Marshfield, now known as Marshfield Hills, A large group gathered there that was influential as to the line the Railroad  took through the Town.

The next stop was Littletown, (now Seaview,) the smallest station on the line.      Descendants  of the founders of Littletown (Sea View)  were on hand to cheer the Gov. Bradford on.

 

Next was the  Marshfield  Centre , the geographical  center of town
To the far right , the  Marshfield Centre  siding sign is prevalent.

Next, location,  South Marshfield,   the Marshfield Station located on Webster St. and  the Neck Rd. now Ocean St. Many of Marshfieds business men were in attendance .

and the last stop was at Webster Place , now Green
Harbor, named after the close-by late resident Daniel Webster.

Each  Station  had a sign attached to one or two sides of the building, the standard colors were a barn red background with white letters. some were gold leaf.

A  “Marshfield” sign still exists.  This type of sign was attached to each Station.

About two  years ago my sister learned  that something “Seaview” was located in the cellar of a home being renovated that once was the residence of  the Sea View Station Master,  Alonzo Stevens.  Alonzo was the Station Master many years, living in the Station as well as his  home  across the street, with his wife Cora,  “Lon” passed in 1932 . Not long after, the  Sea View Station was closed down for lack of patronage .  Lon’s  home was passed on to his  brother Alton.

I n 1934, Alton rented the home to the newly weds Bill & Ruthie Freden where they lived 13 years bringing up their family.

The something “Sea View” turned out to be two Sea View siding signs. These signs were once  posted along the tracks before the Station in both directions, usually within 1/4 of a mile  before, i each direction, to confirm the station stop ahead.   These  newly found signs had been repurposed into  bulkhead stairs in a near by  residences.   This was a surprise to me because I lived in that house 13 years , climbed those stairs many times  and had never seen  the lettering on the sides.

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AS SEEN BEING REMOVED FROM THE LOCATION IT HAS TAKEN FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

The new owner of this residence gave the stairs to my sister, the current resident of  the Cape Cod home built from the Sea View RR Station’s lumber that Bill Freden & son Ray tore down during WW ll.

In 1957, a new foundation was built,    The well known Marshfield  builder August Schatz & crew completed  the building in Oct 1957.

The nearly 140 year old,  vintage  stair parts  (signs) were transported to me here in Maine to be repaired.

The ends could not be salvaged due to rot . The only way to salvage anything, was to make one sign  from the two .

This was achieved by cutting both in half and rejoining with a spline joint and tightly glued.    The black  background paint was restored ,  the letters were re-gold leafed  and clear coated.  The final details were  completed    November 2024,   and installed  on the house built from the former Sea View Railroad Station.

THE ORIGINAL TRACK SIDING SIGN  RESTORED
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In  1945-7 , the Station Was torn down & rebuilt into a Royal Barry Wills designed, Cape Cod style home where my sister Judi Freden, Owner, now resides.

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

 

W.Ray Freden, Sea View,  Marshfield Ma.70 years.  Down East 20 years.