Diary of Thomas Lancaster, New Sharon, 1855–1867
Contributed by New Sharon Historical Committee
Description
Diary of Thomas Lancester from New Sharon. Lancester was an engineer who built many of the covered bridges up and down the Kennebec.
His journal includes a trip by horse, rail, and steamship to Portland, as well as a train ride out west. In his journal he discusses local events (much on church services, including a visit by Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon), illnesses and deaths, accounts of purchases, weather, town business/meetings, his thoughts on the Civil War, and references to bridges he designed as a younger man.
He also gives a detailed account of a 10-day trip he made with his wife in 1855 to the Portland by stage, rail, and steamer. In 1856 he made a 4-month trip by rail to Minnesota to help raise his son Lyman's house.
Lancaster Hall, New Sharon's Grange hall, is named after him.
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