Author Topic: Keith Pratt  (Read 2376 times)

Bruce Wilson

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Keith Pratt
« on: July 22, 2024, 09:20:10 PM »
From an old photocopy of a page within the May, 1938 Railroad Magazine.
An illustration of a church and bell tower in Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island. The caption of the illustration reads, "Engine bell from number 18 of the abandoned Sandy River line of Maine now hangs in Campellton United Church."

"It was presented by Keith Pratt, a railroad fan at Bloomfield Station, P.E.I."



Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Philip Marshall

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2024, 11:24:12 PM »
Thank you for sharing this clipping, Bruce. What an unexpected location for a piece of Maine Two-Foot history to end up, almost as weird as No. 24's original bell (apparently switched on the Baldwin erecting shop floor but identified by its Baldwin class number) being on one of the Red River & Gulf engines at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Louisiana, per Everett Lueck.

This appears to be the Campbellton United Church of Christ on PEI. Does it match the Railroad Magazine illustration? https://www.google.com/maps/@46.7919948,-64.30242,3a,86.3y,256.87h,105.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sBodykwXKboqId71TnQGuBg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DBodykwXKboqId71TnQGuBg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D256.87121860365687%26pitch%3D-15.620088847520321%26thumbfov%3D90!7i13312!8i6656?coh=205410&entry=ttu

Bruce Wilson

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2024, 06:26:13 AM »
Thank you for sharing this clipping, Bruce. What an unexpected location for a piece of Maine Two-Foot history to end up, almost as weird as No. 24's original bell (apparently switched on the Baldwin erecting shop floor but identified by its Baldwin class number) being on one of the Red River & Gulf engines at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Louisiana, per Everett Lueck.

This appears to be the Campbellton United Church of Christ on PEI. Does it match the Railroad Magazine illustration? https://www.google.com/maps/@46.7919948,-64.30242,3a,86.3y,256.87h,105.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sBodykwXKboqId71TnQGuBg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DBodykwXKboqId71TnQGuBg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.share%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26yaw%3D256.87121860365687%26pitch%3D-15.620088847520321%26thumbfov%3D90!7i13312!8i6656?coh=205410&entry=ttu

Hello Phil, thanks for your interesting followup to the old Railroad magazine clipping. I did not know that about the bell from no. 24 and wonderful to know that it survives.

I opened the link to the church in P.E.I. and was stunned with the image shown. Yes, that matches the sketch from my photocopy. What a great surprise that was. If you or anyone else would like a copy of my copy (hint, the quality of such will be poor) please e-mail me and I will mail to you. Again, Phil...thanks so much!
Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Mike Fox

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2024, 06:56:09 AM »
Very interesting.. I was hoping for a photo of the bell but have not seen one yet.

https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMPMZT_Campbellton_United_Church_Campbellton_PEI

Mike
Doing way too much to list...

Bill Reidy

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2024, 09:26:54 AM »
Doing a little digging, I ran across the same link Mike found about the church building.  Of direct interest, the link includes the following text:

"Even the church's bell has a story behind it. Read on.

"THE BELL IN THE CAMPBELLTON UNITED CHURCH STEEPLE

"In the 1930s, Keith William Pratt of Bloomfield Station, well-known local railroad historian, realized that an opportunity had arrived to obtain a bell for the Campbellton United Church steeple.

"Engine No. 18 of the Sandy River and Rangely Lakes Railroad in the State of Maine, U.S.A., was about to be retired from many years of faithful service. Immediately, railroad buffs from miles around began to write or telephone the Sandy River and Rangely Lakes Railroad Company indicating their interest in purchasing various parts of the historic engine.

"Keith W. Pratt wrote to friends of his who worked for the railroad, and through them he was able to reserve the brass bell for the Campbellton United Church steeple. After much preparation and effort on the part of Mr. Pratt, the bell arrived in Campbellton and was ready for installation.

"On special occasions and Sundays in the summer when the Church is nearly filled with residents and visitors, Mr. Pratt makes sure that the bell rings out the message of Good News and another Worship Service in the historic Campbellton United Church is about to begin.

"From Methodists and Presbyterians in Campbellton Page 263"

A PDF copy of the book "Methodists, Bible Christians and Presbyterians in Prince Edward Island, Campbellton-Miminegash" is available online at this link.  And sure enough, the book contains this story (page 263), as well as a photo of the bell on the next page.  Page images below:



« Last Edit: July 23, 2024, 09:28:59 AM by Bill Reidy »
We want...A SHRUBBERY!  One that looks nice, and not too expensive.

Bruce Wilson

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2024, 06:13:32 PM »
Mike and Bill...you both did great researching this. Next step is to drive up and check out that church belfry. I get a visual of John Belushi in the film "Animal House". He had what looked like a 30' ladder up against the wall of the girls dorm...not that I'm suggesting anything.

More on Keith Pratt to come.
Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Bill Sample

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2024, 02:02:52 PM »
SR&RL #18 Bell, part one:  Back in 2007 I talked with Allan Fisher about this bell.    Allan was involved with trying to retrieve the bell and return it to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad (Historical) at Phillips.
As I have cousins on Prince Edward Island I get there almost every summer for a visit and asked if I could help.  Allan told me that as of August 9 of that year Keith Pratt's wife told him that "they were still working to get the bell back to the SR&RL."  IIRC the 2007 Bell Hunt was launched by the appearance a photo of a bell on the ground in front of the church which was thought to be #18's bell removed from the church.  The Bill Sample Detective Agency's International Division leaped into action and after interviewing 3 people in various parts of the small village I found that the photo was of the bell BEFORE it was installed in the steeple back in the late 1930s.  It was still there but not in use due to some problem with the mounting.  We had even brought Sue's larger Sue-baru wagon to haul the treasure and I had a copy of an email from Allan stating if the decision to return it to Maine had been made, I and my faithful assistant Sue were authorized to help the Pratt's and the (SR&RL) museum by bringing it back. 
As it was still in place in the steeple our work was done, and I didn't have to worry about explaining bringing the bell back to its ancestral home in Maine to any inspectors at the border. 
One other note - I believe that the late Herschel Boynton, a SR&RL engineer into the final years of the operation, was involved with the bell gift. 
SR&RL #18 Bell, part two:  Maybe I should stop by Campbellton next month when we return to PEI....
If Allan is reading this maybe he has additional information he can add.
 
« Last Edit: July 24, 2024, 02:05:38 PM by Bill Sample »

Philip Marshall

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2024, 02:41:19 PM »
Thank you for the report, Bill. I'm glad someone has been on the case.

As an aside, how many SR&RL locomotive bells are still out there? I know the Phillips Historical Society has No. 19's bell, but are there others still extant in private collections that people know about?

Re: No. 24's bell in Louisiana, I should make it clear that it isn't the bell the engine ever wore in service in Maine, just the bell it was *supposed* to receive. The theory is the two engines were on the Baldwin erecting floor at the same time in the spring of 1919 and their assigned bells (marked with their unique Baldwin class numbers) were switched by mistake.

Allan Fisher

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2024, 03:52:45 PM »
Nothing new on #18's bell that I know of since your last visit to N.S.
Allan Fisher

Bruce Wilson

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2024, 09:46:27 PM »
From a copy of a letter found within the archives of the Bridgton Historical Society:
From Bloomfield Station, P.E.I., July 28th 1940

To -  Mr. Millard Caswell
         Bridgton, Maine

Dear Mr. Caswell:

Under separate cover I am sending you a copy of the July issue of the Canadian National Magazine, containing  my write up of my trip over the B. & H.  The Editor you will notice, made one little error  when he was titling the picture of you and Everett Brown, Jr.

Due to war conditions, I shall not be able to visit the States this year  on my holidays, and which I sincerely regret. I planned on another trip over the B. & H.

Hoping that you are enjoying good health, and that you will like the little write up, you may keep the magazine.

Keith Pratt
Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.

Bill Sample

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2024, 11:17:12 AM »
A bit on Keith Pratt's life on PEI and his interest in railways can be found here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-bygone-days-farming-dutch-thompson-keith-pratt-1.4674151

Maybe I'll find my way to Campbellton PEI later this month if I have time and see if anyone has any info on the famous bell of #18.

Bruce Wilson

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Re: Keith Pratt
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2024, 02:52:00 PM »
Thank you for posting the link to that article and good luck tracking down the bell.
Wanted: Copies of correspondence and photographs from "first generation narrow gage railfans" such as Linwood Moody, Dick Andrews, Lawrence Brown, Ellis Atwood, H.T. Crittenden and others. Interested in all two foot (U.S.) rail operations, common carrier, industrial/mill and park/museum.