Donovan, Francis D.
Variant namesFrancis D. Donovan was born in Norfolk, Massachusetts, on June 29, 1917 . His love of railroads was fostered by his father, Daniel F. Donovan, a section foreman on the Wrentham branch of the Old Colony Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad (better known as the New Haven Railroad ). Although Daniel Donovan ended his employment with the railroad to become a policeman or security guard soon after his son was born, he retained his own interest in the railroad and friendships with railroad personnel, particularly with the legendary Gene Potter, engineer of the famous Ghost Train of the New York & New England Railroad .
Mr. Francis D. Donovan began working for the New Haven Railroad when he was fourteen, sweeping the floors of Switch Tower 232 in Walpole, Massachusetts . He became a tower operator when he turned eighteen and worked there until his left for his service in the United States Army during World War II. He was a tank sergeant in Europe and was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic actions for gallantry under fire. When he came home in 1945 he decided that railroading was on its way out and became a sales representative for an industrial firm selling metal castings. In 1970, he became the Medway, Massachusetts, town clerk, retiring in 1990.
Mr. Donovan was an avid and lifelong collector, photographer and historian of the railroads of southern New England, particularly the New York & New England Railroad, a predecessor railroad line of the New Haven Railroad . He wrote several articles, including "Big Gene and the Ghost Train," in Yankees Under Steam (published in 1970 by Yankee Magazine ) and "The East Thompson Train Wreck" in Danger, Disaster and Horrid Deeds (published in 1974 by Yankee Magazine ). He was a national director of the Locomotive & Railway Historical Society and a member of many railroad societies, including the New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association .
Mr. Donovan had many other areas of interest and activity. As town clerk of Medway, Massachusetts, he resurrected the town historical society and wrote extensively about the town’s history. He served as the official Medway area climatologist and weather observer for the United States Weather Bureau . He was an amateur radio operator and an avid stamp collector. He had a passionate interest in the works of Samuel Johnson and amassed an extensive collection of Johnson’s writings. He repaired old clocks.
Francis D. Donovan married Mary Dowd in 1942 and they became residents of Medway, Massachusetts, in 1947. They had two children, Sheila and Kevin. He died at his home on December 9, 2005, at the age of 88.
From the guide to the Francis D. Donovan Papers., undated, 1829-1997., (Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center .)
Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
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referencedIn | Francis D. Donovan papers, undated, 1829-1997. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
creatorOf | Francis D. Donovan Papers., undated, 1829-1997. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
referencedIn | Francis D. Donovan Papers., undated, 1829-1997. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. |
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Filters:
Relation | Name | |
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associatedWith | Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Alaska Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Albany & Hudson Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Albany Southern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Albert Griggs | person |
associatedWith | Albert Sheldon | person |
associatedWith | Albion Mines Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Amesbury Newburyport Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Androscoggin & Kennebec Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Ansonia, Derby & Birmingham | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Aroostook Valley Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Atlantic Coast Line Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Atlantic Shore Line Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Augusta, Winthrop & Gardiner Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Baldwin Locomotive Works Experimental Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Baltimore & Ohio Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Bangor & Aroostook Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Bangor Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Barre & Chelsea Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Bath & Hammondsport Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Bay State Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Bay State Street Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Berkshire Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Berlin Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Biddeford & Saco Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Black Rock & Salisbury Beach Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Blue Hill Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Albany Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg & New Bedford Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston, Clinton & Fitchburg Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston Electric Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston Elevated Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston Elevated Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston, Hoosac Tunnel & Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston, Lowell & Northern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Lowell Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Lynn Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Maine Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & New York Air Line Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & New York City Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Northern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Providence Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston, Revere Beach, & Lynn Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Worcester Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Boston & Worcester Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Brimstone Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Brockton & Plymouth Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Brockton Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Brockton & Taunton Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Brookline Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Burlington, Billerica, North Billerica Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Burlington & Missouri River Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Burlington Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Cain Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Camp Manufacturing Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Canada & Gulf Terminal Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Canadian National Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Canadian Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Canadian Pacific Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Cape Cod Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Central New England Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Central New England Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Central of Georgia Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Central Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Central Vermont Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chatham & Lebanon Valley Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago & Alton Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago & Illinois Midland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago & Northwestern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago & North Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Cie Haitenne du Wharf Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Claredon & Pittsford Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Claremont & Concord Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Claremont Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Saint Louis Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Clinchfield Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Commonwealth Avenue Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Concord, Maynard & Hudson Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Connecticut Company | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Conrail | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Conway Scenic Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Cumberland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | C.W.B. Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Daniel Donovan | person |
associatedWith | Dan Malloy | person |
associatedWith | Delaware & Hudson Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Delaware, Lakawana & Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Detriot, Toledo & Ironton Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Donovan, Francis D. | person |
associatedWith | Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | East Branch & Lincoln Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Eastern Mass Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Eastern Taunton Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Edaville Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Edinburgh Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Erie Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Ferrocarilles del Valle de Mexico Railroad/ | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Fitchburg Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Fletcher, Jennings & Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Florida East Coast Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Frank Pearson | person |
associatedWith | French National Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | French Supply Council Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Frisco Lines Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Frisco Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | George B. Williams | person |
associatedWith | Georgetown Loop Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Godchaud Sugar Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Goodman Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Grafton & Upton Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Grafton & Uxbridge Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Grand Trunk Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Grand Trunk Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Great Northwestern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Great Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Great Western Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Green Bay & Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Groveton Paper Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Hartford & Connecticut Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Henschel & John Kassel Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Hetch Hetchy Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Holyoke Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Housatonic Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Hul Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Illinois Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Jacksonville, Saint Augusta & Indian River Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Japanese Imperial Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Jersey Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | J.G. Brill Company | corporateBody |
associatedWith | J. H. French | person |
associatedWith | Joe Page | person |
associatedWith | Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Kansas City Southern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Kennebec Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Kennebec Coal & Wharf Company | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Kennebec Lewiston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Knox Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lake Michigan Shoreline Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lehigh & New England Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lehigh Valley Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Les Locomotives Francaises Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Levensverzekering Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lincoln Lombards Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Linwood Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Locomotives de Lancienne Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | London, Brighton & South Coast Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Long Island Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Louisville & Nashville Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lowell & Boston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lowell & Fitchburg Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lynn & Boston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Lynn & Boxford Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Magama Arizona Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Maine Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Manchester Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Manhattan Elevated Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Manson Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Marlboro & Westboro Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mason Locomotive Works Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mason Machine Works Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Massachusetss Bay Transportation Authority Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | McArthur Brothers Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Medway & Dedham Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Middlesex & Boston Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Midland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Milford, Attleboro, & Woonsocket Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Milford & Bigbee Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Milford, Holliston & Framingham Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Milford, Holliston & Framingham Street Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Milford & Uxbridge Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Milford & Woonsocket Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Minneapolis & Saint Louis Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Minneapolis Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Missouri Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Monandock Northern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Monandock, Steamtown & Northern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Montour Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Montpelier & Wells River Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mount Hope Industries Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mount Hope Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mount Mansfield Electric Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mount Tomalpais & Muir Woods Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mount Tom Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Mount Washington Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Nanhant & Lynn Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Nantasket Beach Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Narragansett Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | National Railroad of Mexico Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Naugatuck Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Newburyport & Amesbury Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Newburyport Car Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New England Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New Haven & Hartford Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New Haven Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York & Harlem River Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York & New England Railroad. | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York, Ontario & Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York, Providence & Boston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | New York, Westchester & Boston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Nickel Plate Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Nord Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Norfolk Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Norfolk & Western Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | North Carolina & Saint Louis Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Northern Massachusetts Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Northern Pacific Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Northern Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | North Woburn Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Norway & Paris Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Norwich Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Old Colony & Newport Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Old Colony Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Orono Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Pacific Coast Borax Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Pacific Electric Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Pacific Great Eastern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Peabody, Salem & Beverly Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Penn Central | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Penn Central Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Pennsylvania Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Pennsylvania - Reading Seashore Lines Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Penrhyn Quarry Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Pere Marquette Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Philadelphia, Reading & New England Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Philippine Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | P.L.M. Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Portland-Lewiston Interurban Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Portland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Portland Terminal Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Portsmouth Electric Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Potter, Gene. | person |
associatedWith | Poughkeepsie & Eastern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Providence, Worcester, & Boston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Providence & Worcester Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Quebec & Lake Saint John Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Quincy & Boston Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Quincy & Boston Street Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rahway Valley Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Reading Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Richmond Washington Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Robbins Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rockland & Abington Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rockland, Thomaston & Camden Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rock of Ages Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rockport Granite Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rocky Nook Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Rutland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Sabanilla & Maroto F.C. Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Sacramento Northern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Saint Clair Tunnel Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Saint Johnsbury & Lake Champlain Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Saint Louis & Southern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Saint Louis Southwestern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Sanford Eastern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Santa Fe Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Seaboard Airline Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | S.E. & C. Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Shelbourne Falls and Colerain Street Railway | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Shepaug Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | S.L.D.W. Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mecaniques | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Somerset & Dorset Junction Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Somerset Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Somerset Traction Company Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Southern New York Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Southern Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Southern Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Springfield Electric Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Springfield Terminal Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Springfield Term Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Steamtown Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Steam Village Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Suncook Valley Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Taunton Branch Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Taunton & Pawtucket Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Tennessee & West North Carolina Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Texas & Brazos Valley Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Texas Midland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Texas & Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Texas Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Thameshaven Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Third Avenue Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | T.M.C. Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Troy & New England Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Ulster & Delaware Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Ulster & Delware Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Union Pacific Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Union Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | United States Military Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Virginian Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Wabash Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Walter R. Figg | person |
associatedWith | Warwick Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Waterville, Fairfield & Oakland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | West End Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Western Maryland Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Western Massachusetts Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | West Roxbury & Roslindale Street Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | West Shore Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | White Pass & Yukon Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | William Mason | person |
associatedWith | Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Wolfeboro Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Wood River Railroad | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Worcester Consolidated Street Railroad | corporateBody |
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Locomotives |
Railroad stations |
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