Tuesday, November 10, 2026 · 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Leominster Public Library — Leominster Public Library, Leominster, MA
It was during the 1840s that the Fitchburg Railroad line was laid from Boston to Fitchburg, under the guidance of local businessman Alvah Crocker. Because the tracks led right past Walden Pond in Concord, its trains and the name of its city are often linked with that of Henry David Thoreau. The naturalist wrote of both in his book, Walden; or, Life in the Woods. Thoreau rode the rails regularly, and he passed through Leominster at least half a dozen times. This presentation will focus on the development of the Fitchburg Railroad, the relationship Thoreau had with trains, and what their arrival meant for the residents of north central Massachusetts. Corinne H. Smith worked as a librarian for more than 30 years. She is the author of Westward I Go Free: Tracing Thoreau’s Last Journey, and Henry David Thoreau for Kids. She lives in Gardner, where she serves on the Conservation Commission. This is a drop in program. No registration is required.