George McEvoy was a teacher when he put a bid on the old Freeport Train Station to save it from being torn down. He said he didn't expect to win nor that, almost 60 years later, it would become part of a pillar of the Boothbay Peninsula. Sept.14, a crowd of volunteers, staff, sponsors and community members gathered at Boothbay Railway Village to celebrate its founder, future, and 60-year history.

“This cherished landmark has stood as a testament to the beauty of preservation, to the value of community, and the power of a vision,” said board member Holly Stover in a speech at the celebration.  

At the heart of it, Stover said, is McEvoy. “Under George's guidance this has become more than a museum. It is a place where families come together, where children learn to wonder and where stories of yesteryear are kept alive for all of us to hear. For six decades, it has offered us a window into history, reminding us that progress and preservation can go hand in hand, and that community is strengthened when we honor the path that brought us all here.” 

McEvoy founded Boothbay Railway Village in 1964 and it opened to the public on Memorial Day Weekend 1965. Now, the campus features trains that take guests around the 30-acre campus, the original Freeport Station that shipped LL Bean’s early products, Boothbay’s first town hall where voters cast their ballots for Abraham Lincoln and an extensive antique automobile collection with vehicles as old as 1902. 

“I had tears in my eyes listening to the accolades,” said McEvoy, responding to the evening’s celebration. He said it is marvelous to see what the museum has become, and he didn’t do it alone. He credited the small staff and a small army of volunteers and supporters. “It's been a community effort to run the show.” 

Guests arrived at the reception at the auto museum after a short ride on Boothbay #6, one of the working trains at the museum. During the celebration, also a fundraiser, they enjoyed a wide array of paired signature bites and drinks from Mine Oyster, sponsored by community members and businesses. As the sun set, the School Street Band played into the night. 

Stover and McEvoy thanked supporters who have donated their time, money and vehicles. One of those is U.S. Sen. and former Maine Gov. Angus King, who was at the event. Years ago, King donated a 1967 Volvo to the museum. He said it was the first car he purchased, and his main vehicle for around 50 years “when you didn't need to be an engineer from MIT to repair a car.” 

“This is a hidden gem, this museum. The cars here are phenomenal ... It's a real asset to this community,” King said. “It's a great expression of Maine, of concern about history, involvement in history, and involvement in the community. It's run by volunteers, and it's just a gem of a place.”