Bradford Lee Gilbert Rail Station
Razed in 1959-60
The rail station which stood in Concord, NH from 1885 to 1959 was demolished and paved over as reported on Cyclemainstreet.
Foundation unearthed June-July 2022
This month and last the foundation and some of the rubble has been excavated
and removed.
Tuesday 6/28/2022
On June 28 a pile of granite had been exhumed from the rail station
Thursday 7/14/2022
On July 14th the following pile was exhumed
At the edge of the pile this brick color detail artwork was exposed. It may be
from the 3rd floor detail of the rail station decoration.
Friday 7/15/2022
The afternoon July 15th, 2022 workers were surveying the pit adjacent to the most Southerly and Westerly foundation walls of the former grand rail station in Concord, NH.
In the photo below with the workers surveying, at the left in the pit is one block indicating where the Eastern edge of the foundation was removed on July 15th. The photo here was taken at the end of day surveying of the pit and Southerly wall. The West wall is not visible here but is to the right and remains in place as of Friday 7/15/22. These two foundation walls will be removed soon, perhaps as early as Monday 7/18/22 unless there is work done on Saturday 7/16/22.
At the top left of the photo is a pile of granite presumably parts of the Eastern foundation removed 7/15/22. My understanding is the Northerly part of the foundation was not excavated and remains under pavement.
At the bottom is a photo looking West from the back of the granite pile. Above the large boulder on the right you can just make out the West wall of the foundation.
West wall of foundation above the boulder on the right.
For anyone with access to a drone for photography and an interest in the rail station the next two or three days would be an opportune time to photograph the location and foundation remains. The end of the Bradford Lee Gilbert Rail Station foundation in Concord will cease to exist by the end of this month.
Monday 7/18/2022
It appears the foundation walls South and West are being left in place [as of 7/22 the South foundation has been excavated and perhaps some of the West]. Trucks are delivering fresh fill to the site and leaving with rubble of the train station to truck it off site.
Wednesday 7/20/2022
Thanks to drone images (right) contributed by B. Graham of Concord the following composite showing the expected location of the razed station can be visualized (below).
At the Northern end of the station it is possible remaining foundation yet to be excavated. Excavation of this for building of the streets in this area are likely to require removal of the foundation beneath the streets.
Who knows what will be discovered in the coming days and years in subterranean Concord.
Perhaps a local artist will repurpose some of the foundation granite and
brickwork to place an appropriate tombstone to the lost station.
1885 Bradford Lee Gilbert Rail Station Location Composite
Monday 7/25/2022
For the new development by Brixmor further exhumation of what is believed to be artifacts and objects of the 1885 rail station continue to be unearthed at the construction site.
Monday images at the site show large square blocks of bricks that appear to be
portions of the corners or perhaps support structures internal to the station.
If they are then this brickwork from the 19th century here for but a short
visit on the way to disposal.
A sign at the corner of Pleasant Street Extension and Storrs Street indicate roadwork is scheduled at the North end of what was the foundation of the passenger station.
In addition some granite presumably part of the foundation and or structure of
the former rail station has been loaded for transportation off site.
What will it become?
