The town of Gorham was incorporat ed in 1836, after having been in existence since 1771 as Shelburne Addition. In its early years, the town contained little more than poor rocky farms, small logging operations, a few stores and stables. The arrival of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (later to be known as the Grand Trunk Railroad) in 1851, had a profound and lasting impact upon this part of the Androscoggin Valley. Suddenly, other White Mountain towns that had enjoyed the bulk of the fast growing tourist trade found their stagecoach connections eclipsed by Gorham and its railroad. Tourists from the East coast and Canada flocked to the railroad owned White Mountain Station House, to the nearby Glen House, the summit of Mt. Washington, and other scenic spots.

The Grand Trunk Railroad, which later became known as the Canadian National and, more recently, the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad, opened the area to tourist trade, which is now the principal industry of the community. At first, Gorham, midway between Montreal and the Portland, ME, was a major rail yard and repair center, but, gradually, the significance of Gorham to the GTRR diminished, as did the significance of the railroads to the country. Logging for timber, exemplified by the once famous Libby and Peabody lumber companies, has likewise declined though trees are still harvested for the paper mills in Gorham and Rumford, ME, chip burning energy plants and sawmills.

    In 1973, the existing railroad station, which was built in 1907, was saved from destruction by the Gorham Historical Society. The building, architecturally unique building, contains displays on area and railroad history. The GHS continually works to expand museum exhibits dealing with the railroads, tourism, the forest products industry and it's residents.

This is a most scenic and interesting part of New England! A 1911 Baldwin 0-6-0 steam locomotive, rescued from the scrap pile in 1986, is a key part of our railroad exhibit. Other railroad equipment on display includes: 1949 F-7 B&M diesel locomotive, two 1929 boxcars, a 1951 Russell snow plow, a 1924 boxcar and a 1942 caboose.

Come visit our unique Model Railroad, found within a boxcar, and also the special Quinn-Crocket Railroadiana collection, also located within a boxcar. GT-CN Historian John Davis, from Maine, oversees this special exhibit.?? Work on the diesel restoration project will continue in 2010, converting the B&M locomotive into a picture gallery and movie theater, with a locomotive simulator in the cab. Donations and a NHDOT grant helped us complete approximately half of the work so far.

    
Gorham Railroad Station & Historical Society
Located at 25 Railroad St., Gorham, NH 03581
Mailing address is P O Box 351, Gorham NH 03581.

2009 Officers of the Gorham Historical Society:
President - Reuben Rajala
Vice President - Tim Sappington,
Secretary - Cathy Dick
Treasurer - Lisa McClure
Membership Director - Dorothy Eichel
Youth Programs - Chris McClure
Military Historian - Ray Vachon
GTRR Historian-John Davis

Monthly meetings are usually held the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM in the Vestry of the Gorham Congregational Church unless otherwise noted in local press or community event's listings in area newspapers.

The Gorham Historical Society Museum is closed for the 2009 season. We will be open for the 2010 season from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day, with some earlier and later weekends, depending upon weather and volunteer availability. Hours are normally 10 AM-3 PM but hours sometimes vary.

Call or email one or more days in advance to assure that someone will be present. Arranged tours are also possible even when the museum is closed (we have no heat, insulation and only single pane windows). ??We value group visitors and would encourage anyone bringing a large number of people to please contact us before coming so that we will be prepared with sufficient guides. Phone (603) 466-5338. Email gorhamhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

We value group visitors and would encourage anyone bringing a group to please call before coming so we will be prepared with sufficient guides. Normally we have one guide in the Main Museum, and one in the Model Railroad. Contact information is (603) 466-5338.

2009 marked the 36th anniversary
of the Gorham Historical Society.

We welcome the donation of artifacts or funds to support our work. You can also volunteer or become a member or corporate sponsor.

2011 will mark Gorham's 175th Anniversary!.
Anyone wishing to be involved with this historic event, please contact us.
The Diesel Project is in full swing, and it is hoped it might be open for visitors before
the summer is over.