A Saturday, August 29, presentation in Andover entitled Trail of History will explore the local impact of the Northern Railroad after its construction between Boscawen and Lebanon in 1847 and describe its evolution from a passenger and freight line to a well-used recreational rail trail lined with historical artifacts.

Co-sponsored by the Andover Historical Society and the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County, the presentation will begin at 4 PM in Proctor Academy’s Stone Chapel, in the center of Andover. It will be open to the public at no charge. Advance reservations are requested and may be made by calling 526-7387. Refreshments will be available.

Presenters will include:

• Ken Cushing of Grafton, a longtime amateur historian of the Northern Railroad and author of a forthcoming book on its history
• Charley Freiberg of Wilmot, a commercial photographer who spent 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
• Charles Martin, author of New Hampshire’s Rail Trails, who claims the Northern Rail Trail has a greater diversity and more numerous railroad artifacts than any other rail trail in the state.

The rail line was constructed in 1847 by the Northern Railroad, part of a route that eventually extended from Boston to Montreal. 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.

For more information, call 526-7387 or e-mail Info@nullFNRT.org.