The morning of March 20, 1908, started like any other morning. Adhering to routine, my grandfather left his loving family as the sun was just rising to the east.
As a long-time employee of the Boston and Maine Railroad in Concord, he was accustomed to long hours and hard work, a very rewarding employer that allowed him to provide for his family. My grandfather walked down North State Street as he greeted other early morning risers walking to their various jobs about the little village of Concord.
My grandfather, Martin, was fortunate to have a very good knowledge of many jobs at the B&M Railroad. He initially worked as a carpenter and worked his way to a level in his career that allowed for better compensation and less rigid physical requirements. After years as a carpenter, he spent time as a brakeman with his final years prior to retirement as a B & M Conductor.
In 1908, my grandfather was still working as a carpenter, riding trains about the northern tracks with assignments that varied, from fixing a depot door to replacing a roof on a building. He was known as a rugged individual and served his company very well.
Another member of the crew that he traveled with was a young man by the name of Philip Steele. Philip, affectionately known as just Phil, was a well-like gentleman from Vershire, Vt. Phil worked alongside Martin most days and their superior workmanship and dedication to the railroad was known by both management and coworkers.
As Martin reached the area of South Main Street, he encountered Phil at a street intersection and they finished their walk to work in the railroad yard together. They felt fortunate to learn their respective assignments would allow them to work together on this cold March morning, the installation of an iron roof on a Concord railroad shed just a few miles up the tracks.
As Martin and Phil gathered their toolboxes, they hopped a ride on the back of a departing train and road the tracks to the shed they were to roof this March 20.
After bidding farewell to the departing train, the two men staged their job, setting up sawhorses and arranging their tools in a most organized manner to allow for a very efficient and productive day. Their direct supervisor said this iron roof needed to be completed this day and the need for a quick job was evident.
The two men approached the roof that had been stripped days prior and started their first course of iron tiles, requiring riveting to secure row upon row. Both Phil and Martin were experienced with riveting, but worked progressed slowly because they were quite high on this isolated shed roof along the railroad tracks, Martin was comfortable but Phil was a bit more concerned and apprehensive because of the height. The men progressed well once they settled into a routine and progress was certainly being made, their supervisor would be quite impressed with both their speed and workmanship.
As the March sun warmed the iron roof, the men were feeling a little fatigued, but still planning to finish the job as they had promised earlier in the morning. It was at exactly 2:30 p.m. when Martin heard a yell from the other side of the roof, just out of eyesight, exactly where Phil was busy riveting the iron tiles. As my grandfather quickly moved across the tiles with limited traction he was met by an empty roof, his fear realized as he gazed over the edge, Phil was on the ground and unconscious.
Martin ran back across the roof to the wooden ladder and quickly reached the ground below, running to check on Phil, he feared the worst.
It was with great relief that Martin found Phil to be alive, breathing and starting to regain his thoughts. Martin realized that when Phil fell the great distanced from the roof to the ground below that he landed primarily on one leg, shattering his ankle and narrowly escaping death. The fracture was severe and Martin entered the shed to send a message seeking help along the transmission line.
A train passing from north to south en route to the railroad yard happened upon the accident and quickly rendered aid. Martin and others loaded Phil onto the train and met a crew with a wagon in the railroad yard transporting young Phil to the hospital quickly.
With communication limited in the year 1908 the B & M Shop Foreman wrote a brief letter to Phil’s family back in Vermont assuring them that he was severely injured but was expected to make a full recovery in the coming months.
This story grows to the peculiar level at this point. The letter was indeed sent to the family in Vermont, but they already had knowledge of the disaster. In fact, the family of Philip Steele living 75 miles away from Concord in Vershire, Vt., actually knew about the accident the moment it occurred.
Phil was very close to his family, especially his favorite sister, Mollie Steele. It was at exactly the same time as the accident, 2:30 p.m. on March 20, 1908, that the sound of the beautiful music Mollie played on here piano abruptly stopped. Mollie’s mother was working in the kitchen at the family homestead and stopped her meal preparation, walking into the parlor where Mollie wept at the silent piano.
“Mother, something is wrong, Philip has been injured, possibly killed. He has fallen a great distance from a roof.”
Mrs. Steele tried her best to console young Mollie. “I am sure this is just your imagination Mollie, Philip is fine.” Mollie remained inconsolable and continued to insist that her dear brother was hurt.
When Mr. Steele returned home later in the afternoon and spoke with his wife and young daughter, he grew concerned and checked with local railroad men to see if he could discover any information regarding his son in Concord. There was no additional news, other than the peculiar thoughts his daughter had at exactly 2:30 p.m. this day.
Within two days a rather official envelope from the Boston and Maine Railroad arrived via the postal carrier. Both Mr. and Mrs. Steele stared at the letter as a chill rose within. Mollie did not want to open the letter for she already knew that it was a message about Philip. Was here brother dead or severely injured? With remorse, Mr. Steele opened the letter and read each word to his attentive wife and daughter. Yes, Philip was indeed injured at exactly 2:30 p.m. on March 20. He had fallen from a great height as he riveted a roof on a railway shed in Concord. Philip survived with assistance from the Boston and Maine riveting crew, especially his coworker Martin Spain.
There are things that happen in life that occur and simply cannot be explained. There is no rational explanation. Thoughts might come in the form of a dream in the middle of a moonless night or perhaps on a cold March afternoon as you are playing your piano. Perhaps it is best to not speculate, to just accept what might be. This was indeed a most peculiar case involving young Mr. Steele, very well documented at the time, now just another piece of Concord folklore to enjoy early this Sunday morning.