Main Street Station – Photo by Alice Peavey
Walter A. Peavey and his wife Alice were residents of the Crown Hill section of Nashua until 1910 when they, and their five year old son Walter H, purchased a farm and moved to Central Street in Hudson. Walter was born in Framingham, MA about 1863; his wife Alice Gorham was native to England and became a citizen soon after immigrating to this country.
Professionally Walter was a machinist, being employed by Nashua Iron and Steel Co, Nashua Lockshop, and Fiather Machine Shop. By avocation he was a farmer; growing vegetables and fruits on the fields behind his home. Besides being a homemaker, Alice was a photographer. The Historical Society has within it’s collection a number of her photographs of Hudson and Nashua, some of these photos were reproduced from the original glass negatives.
Their son, Walter H. married Julie McAlister of Salem, NH in December 1937. After their marriage they resided in Hudson with his parents. In 1978 a number of Alice’s photographs were presented to the society by her son Walter H.
The Peaveys were residents of Central Street in Hudson for 29 years. He passed in April 1939. From his obituary we see he was active in the Giddings Brotherhood (Men’s Fellowship) of the Hudson Community Church and Hudson Grange. The Peaveys remained in Hudson a few yeas after his death. By March 1942 the Peavey homestead was sold to a young, recently married couple named Leon and Gertrude (Gerri) Hammond. The Peaveys returned to Nashua; Alice became a resident of the Mary Hunt Home until her passing sometime in the 1950’s. Walter H. and Julia lived at various locations in Nashua. During WWII Walter H. enlisted in the Navel Reserve and saw active duty.
This week I share with you one of my favorite photographs by Alice Peavey; the Main Street Station of the the Worcester Nashua and Rochester Line of the B & M Railroad located on the site of the present Citizen’s Bank opposite city hall and near the intersection of East Hollis and Main Street. Going west from this station the tracks crossed Main Street just south of the present city hall. Coming east from this station the tracks ran alongside East Hollis Street into the Nashua Junction and then continued eastward and crossed the Merrimack into Hudson just a few rods south of the Taylors Fall Bridge. From there it took the familiar route into Hudson Center and on to West Windham (Anderson) Station.
Soon after 1940 this station was moved from its location, turned 90 degrees and became an addition to the Yankee Flyer Diner. I have read that it was still in use 1953 and likely was still standing when the diner was moved to Massachusetts in 1965. Today the area of the Yankee Flyer is identified with a large mural.
In the 1990’s the rails were removed and in 2000 the Nashua Heritage Rail Trail opened on the site of 1.3 miles of track going west from Main Street. Coming east into Hudson the rails have been removed and paved to improve street usage or converted into commercial usage.
This photo of the Main Street Station was taken from a green space, called the railroad garden, between the station and East Hollis Street. In this photo we are looking west across Main Street. Researched and written by Ruth Parker, Published January 20, 2018 in HLN and as a revisit in the Nashua Telegraph on May 17, 2020.
Remember Hudson NH When... 
From what I can see, the tall building at the far left in the photo, in he background, is the 1883 Spaulding building, still standing and home to 7 Star Pizza.
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I agree with you David. It is the Spaulding building. Thanks
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