A railroad once ran through it – through the town of Andover, that is.

Extending from Boscawen to Lebanon, the rail line was constructed in 1847 by the Northern Railroad, and later became part of the Boston and Maine Railroad’s Northern Line. Now the Northern Rail Trail, the old rail bed offers recreational opportunities for hikers, bicyclists, snowmobilers, and others. Its conversion and ongoing maintenance are the work of the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail groups in Merrimack and Grafton Counties.

The Andover Historical Society’s seasonal exhibit in the Potter Place railroad station this year features the work of Wilmot commercial photographer Charley Freiberg. Along with historic documentation expert Lisa Mausolf, Charley spent roughly three months on the rail trail in 2013, capturing over 2,000 images of the remaining evidence – bridges, culverts, tunnels, signs, and other human-made artifacts – of its past railroad existence.

The exhibit may be viewed during the railroad station’s regular open hours: Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM, and Sundays from 1 to 3 PM. Both the railroad station and the nearby Emons General Store, also a part of the Historical Society museum, offer free admission.

Two dozen or so photos were selected for the exhibit. The documentation project was initiated by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. The exhibit was mounted by Paul Glorioso of Andover.