Dorchester Illustration no. 2387
The Dorchester Historical Society has model railroad cars imitating those that shipped liquid chocolate all over the USA. Jeff Gonyeau recently took a photograph of a real tank car with the Bakers Chocolate name and logo at the railroad museum in Chester, Massachusetts.
The detail from the 1933 map illustrates the tracks and sidings that served the Walter Baker chocolate company on both sides of the Neponset River. Remnants of tracks can still be seen behind the Webb Mill on the Milton side of the river. At one time the tracks were part of the Dorchester and Milton Branch Railroad that ran from Neponset to Mattapan Square. Much of that line has become the line for the Mattapan Trolley.
We have been referred to the following publications that are supposed to have photos and information about Baker Chocolate cars. We are looking for copies of them to scan if you have any in your collection.
NHRHTA v. 18, issue 4
Classic Freight Cars, vol 2
Railroad Freight Car Slogans & Heralds
Check out the Dorchester Historical Society’s online catalog at
http://dorchester.pastperfectonline.com/
The archive of these historical posts can be viewed on the blog at
www.dorchesterhistoricalsocietyblog.org
Open Houses
The Dorchester Historical Society’s historic houses are open on the third Sunday of each month from 11 am to 4 pm. James Blake House, 735 Columbia Road (1661); Lemuel Clap House, 199 Boston Street (1712 and remodeled 1765); William Clap House, 195 Boston Street (1806).