Rail preservation advocate asks Stratford selectboard to back restoration of historic turntable

Paul Raffenello, a member of the Coös Historical Society and an employee at the local library, told the Stratford Selectboard on May 19 that an old railroad turntable just north of town has fallen into disuse and become overgrown and that he is seeking the board’s support to pursue historic designation and restoration.

Raffenello said the structure dates to the early 1800s, was last updated in the 1990s and has not been actively used in over a decade. He described plans to clear and restore the site for public visitation and suggested obtaining an old locomotive or boxcar to make the site more attractive to rail-history visitors. Raffenello manages a local Facebook page (North Stratford RR / NHC / VTR: Another Chapter in the Line’s History) and asked the board to allow him to continue outreach to state authorities in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine to seek landmark status and assistance.

Board members responded with unanimous support for Raffenello’s outreach. The board asked him to keep them informed of any progress and said members would offer assistance if needed. The selectboard did not take a formal vote to commit town funds or begin restoration work; Raffenello’s request at this meeting was for the board’s endorsement of continued outreach and preservation planning.

Next steps noted at the meeting: Raffenello will continue outreach to the three states and report back to the board; any future requests for town resources or formal landmark designation would be subject to subsequent review and possible formal action by the board.