A long-lost milepost has been discovered and returned to its original position along the Northern Rail Trail in Boscawen. If just seven more can be recovered, the 58 miles of the rail trail from Concord to Lebanon will have a complete set.

The Northern Rail Trail is fortunate to retain many artifacts that testify to its historic origins. Among the most impressive are the granite mileposts that were installed by the Boston and Maine Railroad between 1900 and 1905. They served to provide reference points for railroad operations and also to allow the locomotive engineer to gauge his speed using his trusty railroad watch.

These massive mileposts are 8½ feet long and weigh 1,400 pounds. They show the mileage to Boston on one side and the mileage to White River Junction on the other.

The Northern Railroad was constructed, with incredible human labor, from Concord, New Hampshire to White River Junction, Vermont in 1847. This revolutionized the economic culture of up-country New Hampshire.

But subsidized highway competition in the 20th century spelled its doom. Operations were abandoned in “the 1990s”, and the tracks were taken up for salvage. The railroad ties were then removed by volunteer snowmobile groups.

During that period, many of the mileposts disappeared. Only 31 remained on the 58 miles of trail from Concord to Lebanon. Grafton County had lost 22. Merrimack County had lost five.

Recently it was learned that Dane Malcolm of Contoocook had one. He had acquired it from another collector and was preserving it for its historic importance. When he was contacted, he was very glad to see it restored to its original location on the Northern line.

Thanks to the generous volunteer efforts by Howard Jelleme and Ricker Miller of Andover, this massive monument was transported and installed at its original location on the rail trail in Boscawen.

After recovery of other mileposts on private property and the transfer of mileposts from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s stockpile, the Northern Rail Trail still is missing seven mileposts to complete the 58 miles from Concord to Lebanon Center.

We urge anyone who has one of these irreplaceable monuments to contact anyone in the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail (FNRT) to arrange a “no questions asked” donation. You can reach me at 735-5690.

CAPTION: Ricker Miller of Andover guided the long-lost 1,400-pound milepost back into its proper place beside the Northern Rail Trail. Howard Jelleme of Andover provided and operated the equipment for the installation. Dane Malcolm of Contoocook had acquired the milepost from a collector and was preserving it for its historic importance. Photo: Ed Hiller

NOTE: “Ricker” is correct.