Black Bridge - below C.N.R. Railway Station at Freetown.

The Black Bridge was a popular hangout for many of the younger residents of the local community. They gathered to hear the latest jokes and stories, or to horse around, have a puff or two, throw a few rocks, meet their latest steady, skip school or just pass the time. The Black Bridge used to be visited at noon time by local school children. Occasionally, during the spring freshet, one or more would fall or be pushed into the cool water and some would have to dry out while sitting in their school seat during the afternoon. The thrill of hearing a train roll overhead was another attraction for those who wanted to feel a thrill going down their spine.

The main use of the railroad at Freetown continued to be in the shipment of agricultural products. During a one year period from 1 September, 1965 to 31 August, 1966, the inward carloads numbered 50 and consisted of limestone, fertilizer, grain products, etc. During the same period the outward carloads numbered 127 and consisted mainly of potatoes and turnips destined to points in Quebec and West. The station agent, Gerard Allen, sold 43 passenger tickets for a total of $605.00. He received 188 telegraph messages and sent 51 for a total of $335.00. The express service (truck) saw 125 shipments into Freetown and 20 shipments out of Freetown. The total gross revenue accumulated at the Freetown Station during the one year period was $65,802.00. The Freetown Station Agent also handled shipments into and out of Baldwin’s Crossing in Kelvin Grove and Elwood Paynter’s crossing on the North Freetown Road. A total of 20 carloads were shipped from the Baldwin’s Crossing for a gross revenue of $5,127. The Paynter Crossing shipped 61 carloads for a total gross revenue of $17,581.00. These latter figures were included in the $65,802.00 Freetown’s station’s total gross revenue.

A move towards centralizing railway station agents resulted in the termination of the station agent and buildings at Freetown in 1967. A meeting to oppose this was held at the C.N.R. Station at Freetown, on 16 May, 1967. Local residents and business people attended this meeting, but did not accomplish their objective. The station closed later that year. The building was sold to Harold Drummond and he currently uses it as a mechanical repair shop. Between 1875 and 1967, the railway station was central to the community. The local people waited each day to hear the loud shrill blast of the train telling everyone that the mail had arrived, a loved one had returned home, or a freight car had arrived to be loaded or unloaded. In the 1980’s, the railroad remains a useful means for farmers to ship and receive merchandise. Shipments, however, have to be booked at the Kensington Station. Thus ended an era in our history.

These are the Station Agents who served Freetown at various times:

Michael P. Driscoll 1892-1927 Peter Power 1927-1930 Clifton Matheson 1930-1947 Albert Rowe 1947—1956 Gerard Allen ? —l967.

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