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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom NEW RAILROAD BOOK TO BENEFIT MUSEUM HEAT PUMP -- A large part of Brownville Junction’s history is being preserved in the new book “More than a Train Yard and a Whistle Stop: The Canadian Railway’s Brownville Division 1886 to 1963” by former resident Ken Hatchette. Hatchette donating all proceeds to the Brownville-Brownville Junction Historical Society and society officials plan to have the funds be used to purchase a heat pump for their Parish House Museum on Church Street.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom NEW RAILROAD BOOK TO BENEFIT MUSEUM HEAT PUMP -- A large part of Brownville Junction’s history is being preserved in the new book “More than a Train Yard and a Whistle Stop: The Canadian Railway’s Brownville Division 1886 to 1963” by former resident Ken Hatchette. Hatchette donating all proceeds to the Brownville-Brownville Junction Historical Society and society officials plan to have the funds be used to purchase a heat pump for their Parish House Museum on Church Street.

Brownville railroad history book author to be at Parish House Museum this weekend

Staff, Piscataquis Observer •October 9, 2017

BROWNVILLE — Fresh off the press, printed copies of Ken Hatchette’s new book “More Than a Train Yard and a Whistle Stop: The Canadian Pacific Railway in Brownville Junction 1886 to 1963” are now available for purchase. The author will be visiting the Parish House Museum at 72 Church Street Oct. 13-15 to meet those who have purchased or wish to buy the book. All copies in this first publication will be signed by the author.

This amazing work details the construction and operation of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Brownville Junction from the time of its inception in the mid-1880s through the mid-1960s when the author and his family moved to St. John, New Brunswick.

Hatchette grew up in “the Junction” and was surprised to see, upon return to the area several years ago, that most of the structures belonging to the railroad and integral to its operation no longer existed. After some thought, he decided that the development of the railway in this community and the development of the community itself was a story that needed to be told. This book is the culmination of more than 1,200 hours of research and writing and documents the buildings and infrastructure that were part of the railway and the community. The human aspect of the town is also included by descriptions of the people who populated the many trades and professions that were necessary to operate, maintain and provision the railroad’s Brownville Division. The village of Henderson, later changed to Brownville Junction, came into being because of the railroad. This story too is documented in Hatchette’s book.

If you have pre-ordered a copy of the book, reserved a copy or wish to purchase, you can pick up at the museum on Friday, Oct. 13 from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Oct. 15. After this weekend the books will be available for purchase at Simple Sacks in Brownville or by contacting Susan Worcester at 965-8070.

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