Interested visitors and exciting stories drive experienced Andover Historical Society volunteers to work as stationmasters at the Society’s Potter Place museum during the summer months, but more volunteers are desperately needed to keep the museum open.

The village of Potter Place used to be one of the hubs of Andover, home of a general store, a hotel, transportation stables, and most importantly, a train station, part of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The last train ran in 1965, but thanks to the Andover Historical Society, the Potter Place train station and its museum of Andover and railroad history is still open on summer and fall weekends to interested Andover residents and visitors.

The railway was constructed in 1848 and ran straight through the homestead of famed magician and ventriloquist Richard Potter. The station at “Potter’s Place” became vital to the area, as it brought in students, farmers, businessmen, and tourists. With the recent construction of the Northern Rail Trail on the old rail bed, tourists still make their way through Potter Place on bikes and on foot, exploring the countryside of New Hampshire.

Pat Cutter, president of the Andover Historical Society, and her team of volunteers maintain both the general store and the Potter Place museum during the summer and fall, offering a glimpse into the history of Andover. Willing residents act as stationmasters, volunteering a few hours each summer to sit in the office, watch over the building, and answer any questions visitors may have.

“The stationmaster’s office is just the way it would have looked,” Pat notes. “I give our volunteer stationmasters an orientation, and we have all the information hanging on the walls. If it’s a nice day and there are people around, it can be a very fun time for the stationmasters. There are still people who live here who remember taking the train down to Franklin to see the movies.”

As such a large contributor to the Andover community, many longtime residents have fond memories surrounding Potter Place, but some tourists have stories as well. Pat recalls, “The granddaughter of the last real stationmaster in Potter Place lives out of state, but she was back visiting, and she came to the museum and shared her memories of coming here when her grandfather was working.”

To learn more about volunteering as a stationmaster in the Potter Place museum, contact Pat Cutter at 735-5628 or Pres@nullAndoverHistory.org.