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For Lewis Peterman of the East Lycoming Historical Society, the history of the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad is a family affair. His great-grandfather Harry Peterman was the station agent in Sonestown and his great uncle Philip Peterman was a station agent in Nordmont.
When a historical marker sign was unveiled recently in Hughesville to mark the spot where the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad once stood, Peterman, an East Lycoming Historical Society board member, presided over the ceremony, remarking how vital the 47 mile-long railroad was to the area.
"If you remember in 1864, everything to the north there were virgin woods and timberlands. It was all fresh woods to be cut and harvested," Peterman said.
The railroads were the only way to get the products of our region out, being a rural, mountainous area, he added.
The ceremony celebrated the former railroad site and the historical marker sign at the corner of West Academy and South Railroad streets, on the present-day fire department grounds in Hughesville.
Mayor Rick Smith of Hughesville cut the ribbon on the marker, with assistance from borough council member McKenna Long.
The railroad began its operations in 1872.
"If you could picture back 100 years ago and even longer there was a railroad depot, right here was the station, there was a freight house back here, and if you look very carefully over to the right you will see some concrete in the ground over here, that is where the engine shops were, Peterman said about the former railroad grounds.
When the railroad went out of business in 1938, the principal owner gave the property for the formation of the Hughesville Fire Department, Peterman said.
"I just remember what my mother used to talk about. If she were still alive she would be 111 years old," Bill Foresman, board member of the East Lycoming Historical Society, said.
His mother would talk about the railroad and how they would take the horse and buggy to Halls Station, get on the train, and go shopping to Williamsport to buy school clothes, Foresman shared.
"It was a different world back then, it was an all-day trip," Foresman added.
The railroad saw sixteen passenger and several freight trains pass through Hughesville daily.
Beginning at Halls Station it extended 47 miles to Satterfield in Sullivan County and served 16 stations and flag stops.
"The East Lycoming Historical Society decided that we wanted to do a dedication to the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad, so we had this sign made. We wanted the youth and people to know that this was here because not many people know," Peterman said.
"This railroad was so important, that when Thomas Taber wrote his book, he called it the Muncy Valley lifeline." Peterman said.
State Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, echoed Peterman's sentiments of the importance of historical knowledge.
"We don't know history if we're not teaching it," Hamm said, while sharing a few words at the dedication.
"This will be something our youth will be able to look upon and learn from. It's things like this that make sure that our youth know our history, and that history will carry on," Hamm added.
The East Lycoming Historical Society will present a program about the Williamsport & North Branch Railroad at the Hughesville Library at 146 S. Fifth St., at 6 p.m. on Oct. 19.
The historical society's museum is located at 66 Main St., Hughesville, and is open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.