Mt Willard Section House, Crawford Notch – Above is the historic Mt Willard Section House and the Willey Brook Bridge (c. 1900) along the old Maine Central Railroad in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire. Completed to Fabyan's in August 1875 by the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, the building of this railroad was an amazing accomplishment, but to also build a house on the edge of it makes this an incredible story.

The railroad would eventuality be leased to the Maine Central Railroad. And the Mt Willard Section House was built in 1887 to house section foreman James E. Mitchell, his family, and crew who maintained Section 139 of the railroad. James and his family lived a short distance up the tracks before moving into the Mt Willard Section House. 

In 1903 Loring Evans took over as foreman of Section 139 and with his wife, Hattie, moved into the Mt Willard Section House. Loring was killed ten years later in a railroading accident at Crawford's yard, but Hattie remained living in the Section House until 1942.[1] She would raise their four children at the Section House, and continue to house the men who worked Section 139. Unfortunately, endless vandalism to the Section House would force Maine Central Railroad to burn it down in December 1972.[2] Above is how the site looks today.

Because of the activities surrounding the Mt Willard Section House when the Evans family occupied it, the legacy of Hattie Evans is forever implanted into White Mountains history. And even though the Section House was burned down in 1972, the foundation, a memorial, and small garden keep this important historical site front and center. The Conway Scenic Railroad’s Notch Train also passes by here on its way to Crawford Depot.

A few books have been written about railroading in Crawford Notch. And history enthusiasts will enjoy “Life by the tracks” by Virginia C. Downs.[3] As the title suggests, its about the lifestyle of the Evans family living within feet of the Maine Central Railroad for almost forty years during an era when railroading was a way of life.

This article is only an introduction to a unique historical site here in the White Mountains. If you do visit the site be sure to admire all the old carvings (above) in the ledge.

Read more about the fascinating story of Private L. Dudley Leavitt guarding the Willey Brook Trestle in 1917, one month after the United States entered into World War 1, here.

Happy image making..

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Notes:
[1] Hattie left the section house in 1942 to live with one of her children in Maine. She died in 1954 at age 82.
[2] The section house was used up until 1965 when it was abandoned.
[3] Downs, C. Virginia. Life by the tracks. West Kennebunk, ME: Phoenix Publishing, 1983.

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Erin Paul Donovan

Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC

Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.