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USGS
Topographic map of Heywood
The Gardner railroad station was located at the crossing of the B&M RR Fitchburg Division Main Line between Boston and Greenfield (which continued west as the Berkshire Division to Troy NY), and the B&M RR Worcester and Hillsboro Branch to Contoocook NH. This station was perhaps a mile southeast of Gardner's business district. This station was briefly used for a few trains of the MBTA Commuter Rail Service that currently terminates at Fitchburg.
Site of former Gardner railroad station, last used as an
MBTA commuter rail station.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000
The railroad track between Gardner Station and a point south of the Cross Street overpass is still active for industrial switching purposes, as the Heywood Branch of the Guilford Rail System.
Heywood Station was much closer to the business district and accordingly, it must have been maintained as a convenience for passengers traveling to Gardner on the Worcester and Hillsboro Branch. The station must have taken its name from the adjacent Heywood-Wakefield furniture factory. The Webmaster was totally unable to locate any evidence of the Heywood Depot, but presumes that a small building must have been located near the Central Street Crossing.
Central Street crossing adjacent to the Heywood-Wakefield
factory.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
A small city park is just east of the Central and Park
Street crossings.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking north along the former railroad track from the
Central Street crossing.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking north along the former railroad track from the Park
Street crossing.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking across Park Street at an industrial siding that ran
next to the Greenwood Memorial Building.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking south from Crystal Lake Rd at weed grown track
along the shore of the lake.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
The trail currently begins between two boulders along the driveway for the Park Shed (at 301 Lake Street), and runs north through the woods from that point towards Winchendon.
The Park Shed.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking north along the trail from the Park Shed driveway.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
The trail crosses Lake Street perhaps a mile north of the Park Shed. This street carries modest traffic volumes at moderate speeds. Note however that motorists are not warned about the trail crossing!
Looking north along the trail from the northern Lake Street
Crossing.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Looking south along the trail from the Route 140 Crossing.
Digital photograph by Kenyon F. Karl on July 24, 2000.
Trail users must exercise great care when crossing Route 140 due to the high-speed traffic. Note also that motorists are not warned about the trail crossing!
Limited trail parking, two picnic tables, and a chemical toilet are available
along Cottage Street adjacent to the small park. The stage of the amphitheater
can be used as a trail shelter when not otherwise in use.
Ample trail parking is presumably available during the warm weather months at
the Veterans Skating Rink that is visible from the small city park.
North Central Pathway Flyer states that a mile
long paved trail runs from the rail-trail at the south end of Crystal Lake along
the east shore of Crystal Lake past the hospital and golf course and then to a
picnic area at the Marm John Reservoir. This pathway is open for
bicyclists, rollerbladers joggers, walkers and persons with disabilities.
An outdoor swimming pool was observed adjacent to the Greenwood Memorial
Building on Lake Street, a short distance north of Park Street. Toilets and
showers are presumably available whenever the pool is in operation.
Gardner Heritage State Park Visitors Center provides information, toilets, and
water, as well as exhibits that show the historical importance of Gardner's
furniture factories. The Center is an eighth-mile west of the Central Street
Crossing (also reachable from Greenwood Memorial via Lake St) and is open Noon
to 4 pm Sun-Mon and 9 am to 4 pm Tue-Sat.
A small convenience store with deli counter is at the Pine street intersection a
short distance west of the Central Street Crossing. A public telephone is
outside at the intersection.
Vermont Transit
(Greyhound) stops in Gardner at
the EZ-Mart on their intercity route between Boston MA and Rutland VT. Vermont
Transit will accept bicycles in boxes as part of the passenger checked baggage
allowance.
Montachusett
Regional Transit Authority provides local bus service within Gardner on
weekdays and Saturdays. Weekday morning and evening service is provided to Fitchburg
for connections with MBTA
Commuter Trains to Boston. Other service to
Fitchburg is offered via Mt. Wachusett Community College. Link services
operated in cooperation with the Franklin
Regional Transit Authority serve Winchendon, Athol, Orange and Greenfield.
Note that a MRTA bus stop shelter was noted at the Central Street Crossing, but
the Webmaster was not able to determine which bus route(s) served that shelter. Note
that MRTA busses do not accommodate bicycles!
'Street-legal' trail users can use the following informal unposted bike
route
from Heywood Station to reach the beginning of the trail at the Park Shed
(involves moderate traffic at
modest speeds):
North on Cottage Street (between factory building and the small park)
Northwest on Park Street (to Greenwood Memorial Building)
North on Lake Street (past the swimming pool)
East on the narrow driveway to the Park Shed at 301 Lake Street (look for two green street signs!).
'Street-legal' trail users can enter and exit the trail at the following points:
The narrow driveway to the Park Shed at 301 Lake Street (look for two green street signs!).
The end of Jackson Street (other end is at Clark Street intersection).
The northernmost crossing of Lake Street (just south of power line crossing).
Route 140 crossing.
A few cars can park under the transmission lines at the northernmost
crossing of Lake Street.
Listed on the National Register of
Historic Places:
Garbose Building - 3 Pleasant St., Gardner
Gardner News Building - 309 Central St., Gardner
Gardner Uptown Historic District - Roughly along Central, Cross, Elm, Green. Glazier, Pearl and Woodland Sts., Gardner
Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex - 206 Central St., Gardner
Lake Street Fire Station - 2 Lake St., Gardner
