Union Stations Across the U.S.
By Beryl Frank
Bangor, Maine
The station pictured below was built in 1906. The architect was Henry B. Fletcher of Boston. Mr. Fletcher chose buff brick with brownstone trim and a red slate roof. These were used in a Romanesque revival style.
In 1911, people from Bangor witnessed the Great Fire. Although the fire started across the street from the station, it did no damage to the station itself. Was water carried from the Penobscot River across the parking lot to put out the Great Fire? We cannot answer that question but are grateful that the building and the train shed on its left were both spared the flames.
Passenger service ceased to come to Bangor so the need for a train station also stopped. The beautiful building created in 1906 was destined to follow the fate of other railroad stations in Maine - such as the demolition of Grand Trunk and Union stations in Portland. All three of these stations were no longer serving passengers due to the takeover of automobiles and, after them, the increase in airplane travel.
Fortunately for the people of 2006, the historical societies of Portland, Grand Trunk and Bangor kept records of the train stations of Maine. Sometimes a picture postcard was painted of these stations showing clearly the buildings of what once was. On the picture included here, if you look closely to the left, you can see a portion of the train shed.
If you know the automobiles of yesterday, you can easily date the picture by their style. Were these cars with the large spare tires on the back from 1910? Were the cars in the front of the picture with some kind of heavy fabric on the tops earlier or later than 1910? What about the cars against the building behind the train shed? If you can answer these questions, you can date the age of this picture.
When the passenger trains ceased running between 1960 and 1965, three stations were demolished in Maine. Grand Trunk came down, Union Station in Portland came down, and Union Station in Bangor came down. All that actually remains of this once lovely train station in Bangor are the relics of the past.
Thanks to Ms. Dana Lippitt of the Bangor Historical Society for her help with this article.
This view of the Union Station in Bangor, Maine, shows the beautiful building which was demolished c-1960 when the passenger trains ceased running. The train station was replaced with a strip mall.
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