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Description
Diary of Thomas Lancester from New Sharon. Lancester was an engineer who built many of the covered bridges up and down the Kennebec.
His journal includes a trip by horse, rail, and steamship to Portland, as well as a train ride out west. In his journal he discusses local events (much on church services, including a visit by Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon), illnesses and deaths, accounts of purchases, weather, town business/meetings, his thoughts on the Civil War, and references to bridges he designed as a younger man.
He also gives a detailed account of a 10-day trip he made with his wife in 1855 to the Portland by stage, rail, and steamer. In 1856 he made a 4-month trip by rail to Minnesota to help raise his son Lyman's house.
Lancaster Hall, New Sharon's Grange hall, is named after him.
Transcription
Full transcription - Large file - 36 MB
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