Marshfield residents refuse to accept the addage, you can’t get there from here. A railroad comes to town...

The first train was pulling into Marshfield on this day in 1873. For Marshfield residents, it was a beautiful sight.

The original path for the Montpelier and Wells River Railroad optimized travel time and routing by bypassing Marshfield. Marshfield, after all, stood two miles to the north, and would require some serious excavation through Loveland’s Ledge. But, Marshfield residents were doggedly persistent.

The town bonded money for rail line construction, and combined with private donations, came up with $30,000. That caught the attention of the rail developers, who amended the line to include service to Marshfield.

Photograph from Marshfield, Vermont by Caleb Pitkin.

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