On May 18, 1891, the citizens of Washington County approved the construction of a 118 mile railroad from Washington Junction. three miles east of Ellsworth, by a vote of 4,115 for the proposal and 1,236 against it. Although the Washington County Railroad was incorporated in 1893, the first passenger train from Calais to Eastport did not make its initial excursion until Thursday, December 29, 1898, travelling over a line built with 60-pound steel rail. By November 15, the carpentry work was finished on the Dennysville Depot, which was located in what had been Vose's pasture. The station was officially opened December 12 with C.D. Bishop serving as temporary agent. Eventually there was also a freight shed and maintenance building with H.H. Allen's potato house nearby. A temperature of -15 degrees with a strong wind blowing on the morning of December 29, 1898, did not deter Dennysville residents who has planned to travel on the first through passenger train to Washington Junction. Among those who braved the elements to get to the station on time were Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gardner and Miss Sue Bartlett. On that same day, the first freight train to come from Calais arrived.