Silsby watercolor of locomotive to be auctioned in MCI benefit

PITTSFIELD – Every year, noted watercolorist David Silsby creates a painting to be auctioned off to benefit the arts and sports programs at Maine Central Institute. In the past, the ’49 MCI graduate has used the historic Founders Hall, with its trademark bell tower, and the annual winter carnival’s tug of war as subjects.

This year, Silsby drew on some fond memories off campus. He captured the railroad era in Maine through a watercolor depicting a locomotive steaming through the Pittsfield train depot. The station now serves as a museum. MCI’s auction and dinner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Proceeds benefit the institute’s music and athletic departments.

“Last summer, I had the opportunity while in Waterville to visit the site of Maine Central Railroad’s gift to that city of Steam Locomotive 470. As I climbed aboard that mighty machine, it brought back memories of MCI school days and the times I traveled as a passenger pulled by this powerful engine,” Silsby reminisced, speaking by phone from his winter home in Florida. “I remember, as if yesterday, Union Station in Bangor and will never forget as the train began to slow down, but not stopping, as we approached Burnham, the conductor calling out, ‘Burnham! Burnham Junction! Get ready to jump!’

“The thought concerned me a little as I wondered if I would be asked to jump when we arrived in Pittsfield!” the artist continued. “The last run of this wonderful old war horse from Portland to Bangor was on June 13, 1954, just five years following my graduation. I vividly remember as a child Mr. Hickson of Bangor, who was an engineer on steam locomotives. Mrs. Hickson took us down to the roundhouse to see her husband off. As children we so much admired Mr. Hickson and all vowed we were going to be an engineer when we grew up!”

Silsby’s paintings have sold for between $750 and $1,100 at the MCI auction in the past.

Carolyn Mitchell, director of development at MCI, said “I must say their value is “priceless” since no one else is chronicling the history of Pittsfield and MCI in quite the same way, if at all. David’s paintings for the state of Maine and for USM’s law school [University of Southern Maine] are astonishing in the reality of the treatments.”

“The inspiration for my painting for the Maine Central Institute Annual Alumni Auction came from my memory of an era that has long since passed,” Silsby reflected. “It is so sad for me to recall the loss of some of Pittsfield’s oldest landmarks. For example, the Lancey House destroyed by fire in 1965, the termination of Pittsfield’s Maine Central Railroad Depot and Express Office that had served the needs of passengers and freight in the Pittsfield area since 1855, and most recently the removal of Sally Friend’s beautiful home which overlooked the library, depot station and grain elevator building.

“Also missing today is one of Pittsfield’s oldest landmarks: the 100-by-400-foot, six-story barn and grain elevator located on a spur track just beyond the passenger station,” the painter said. “This enormous barn was over 175 years old, had been moved twice and used as a stable, farm tool and grain store and home improvement store. It was first known locally as “Home of Early Bird,” a famous race horse from Dr. Drake’s Stable.”

Planning a painting each year for the MCI auction, Silsby has searched for subjects that would be relevant to the Pittsfield area. “This year I selected the Depot House Museum as that scene brought back so many memories,” he said.

To bid on David Silsby’s watercolor “Pittsfield Train depot,” call Carolyn Mitchell at 487-3355 at Maine Central Institute.