To keep the railroad operating after the untimely death of F. Nelson Blount, his close friend Fred H. Richardson became the new president. Mr. Richardson had grown up with Mr. Blount and shared his love for steam railroading.

On November 19, 1970, George Bartholomew purchased the railroad and became the next president. Just like the previous presidents, he had the love for steam railroads in his blood. Years before he had worked at Edaville under Nelson Blount's presidency. At that time he "graduated" from operating kiddie rides to actually working on the railroad equipment. Dave Barnes remembers him as a fireman while Dave was the engineer.

Just like every other business, Edaville was asked to cut their energy use during the oil crisis in the early 70s. That could have been the end of the Christmas displays, the time when the railroad makes most of its money. But instead of shutting down, they generated their own power. Their "hidden" engine, Porter #5, was pressed into service as a stationary boiler. The steam was piped to an antique steam engine which in turn had a drive belt to move a generator. Years after the crisis was over, visitors could still see the engine/generator combination on display and make it move with the push of a button.

Mr. Slim & LJ

I started visiting the railroad in 1976 and have many fond memories of the years under Mr. Bartholomew. My children enjoyed the performances of Mr. Slim's vaudeville show and the Bennington Puppets. The static displays of locomotives and antique trucks were frequented by them, as they climbed on and pretended to drive them. We also enjoyed Edaville's famous chicken dinners in the pine grove barbeque area. The annual rail fan's day was relished by me for the photo (and later video) opportunities when all available equipment would run.

Mr. Bartholomew also started to open Edaville up for craftspeople to display their crafts. A small shed became home for a basket-weaver and we often watched her at work or admired her beautiful baskets. She even invited the kids to help at times. The children always were awestruck when they could watch the blacksmith in his shop beat the red-hot iron with his hammer to form a fancy bracket.

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Building the carpenter shop

The carpenter shop (today's gift shop near the entrance) was added to the blacksmith shop and built completely with period hand tools, a fascinating experience to watch someone cutting all the joints by hand that make up the heavy timber frame for the building. When the building was finished you could buy wooden toys in the shop or just watch the craftsmen make them.

During the 1991/92 Christmas season I ran into George Bartholomew and asked him about the rumors that the Edaville Railroad was up for sale. He denied it and assured me that the railroad would be back in the summer "bigger and better." Unfortunately, it was not true and the railroad never opened again for years.

The railroad was sold and most of it used to establish the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad at Portland. The historic equipment was transported by a convoy of antique trucks to its new home.