By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Ever notice the caboose that sits idle next to the American Legion Hall in Stockholm? If so, have you ever wondered how it came to rest there? Well just ask brothers Lewie or Dana Dixon and they will be happy to fill you in on the car’s history and just what it has become this summer.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Brothers Dana and Lewie Dixon stand in front of the 1917 caboose recently dedicated in memory of their father, Gordon Dixon.
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad caboose, built in 1917, originated in Derby, a small junction near Brownsville. Twenty years ago, a gentleman by the name of Vernon Nadeau, brought it to Stockholm.
Since then the caboose has been donated to the Stockholm Historical Society and most recently, over the July 4 festivities, it was dedicated in memory of Gordon Dixon, a resident of Stockholm who worked for the railroad for 32 years. Mr. Dixon died in 1985.
This summer, the elder Dixon’s sons, Lewie, who lives in California and Dana, a resident of Stockholm, decided to fix up the caboose, which until that time, had been sitting there, with only the occasional visitor perusing the inside.
“It was Lewie’s idea,” said Dana referring to his brother who, when arriving for a visit, parked his RV in behind the caboose and decided that it was time that the old car became useful to the community.
“The caboose has Dad’s name on it,” said Dixon, “and it took us about two months but now it is really in good shape and the inside has a lot of old photos of the early railcar days, as well as Dixon family photos and other railroad memorabilia.”
“We really would like to see the elder Stockholm residents use the caboose as a place to play cards, have a cup of coffee and socialize,” stated both Dixons.
The brothers have started the Gordon Dixon Foundation, which will help in maintaining this project. Railroad photographs and other pictures along with coffee mugs and T-shirts (each $10) depicting the caboose are available on site or at Anderson’s Grocery, just up the road from the Perkins/Plourde American Legion Hall.
A few years ago, a group of area school children, who were reading one of the “Boxcar Children” books, experienced a chance to read while inside a genuine railcar. At that time, the caboose was in a bit of disarray, but the cold damp weather helped the young readers envision just what the books’ characters were dealing with. Now, with a small woodstove installed inside the car and comfortable seating, local residents and guests will find the atmosphere very warming.
A formal dedication of the caboose in Gordon Dixon’s memory took place following the July 4 parade.
Assisting Lewie and Dana Dixon with the caboose repairs and the interior design were George “Clayton” Nelson, David Anderson, Frannie Anderson and Kimberly Dixon.
Donations to the Gordon Dixon Foundation may be sent to Dana Dixon, 377 Station Road, New Sweden; for more information contact him at 896-3280.
