Preserving History: The Milton Train Car Timber Frame Pavilion

When the City of Milton received a historic train car as a donation, community leaders wanted to create something special — a lasting structure to both protect the car and celebrate the town’s railroad heritage. To achieve this vision, they partnered with Milton native and local contractor Dave Hoffman of Log & Timber Solutions who enlisted the expertise of Timberhaven.

Working alongside Timberhaven’s corporate sales representative Andrew Harter, Dave collaborated closely with the design team to create a custom Timber Frame Pavilion that would complement the park’s existing features while offering the protection and visual appeal the train car deserved.

Designed for Function and Style

Located at the corner of Filbert & Broadway streets, the result is a 12’ x 17’ Shed Roof Timber Frame Pavilion—a structure carefully designed around the dimensions of the train car and the surrounding site. The pavilion features Premium-Grade Kiln-Dried Engineered Timbers, ensuring lasting durability and stability while maintaining the warm, authentic beauty of White Pine.

Shed Roof Timber Frame Pavilion components include:

• 8×8 Posts
• 6×12 Headers with 45° Bevel
• 4×8 Rafters with custom scroll-cut rafter tails that mirror the architectural style of the park’s nearby structures
• 6×8 and 4×8 Arched Angle Braces
• Pre-Cut Mortise & Tenon Joinery, secured with a combination of metal fasteners and traditional oak pegs
• 2×6 Tongue & Groove Ceiling Finish
• Finished with Tamko Lifetime Architectural Shingles and Outlast Q8 Log Oil to preserve the wood

Built with Ease and Precision

As Dave Hoffman noted, “The pavilion was easy to assemble thanks to Timberhaven’s precise pre-cutting and labeling. The kiln-dried timbers made the material lighter and easier to handle on site while maintaining strength and quality.”

This thoughtful engineering made it possible to raise the structure efficiently (meaning days) while still delivering a handcrafted look and feel.

A Perfect Fit for the Park

The new Milton Train Car Timber Frame Pavilion now stands proudly in Milton’s park alongside other shed-roof styled structures, including one that shelters the park’s welcome and history signs and another that once shaded guests waiting to board the train. Together, they create a cohesive and charming setting that honors the town’s past while providing new life to a historic piece of its story.

Thanks to the teamwork between Timberhaven, Log & Timber Solutions, and the City of Milton, the Milton Train Car Pavilion is more than a shelter — it’s a symbol of community pride, craftsmanship, and preservation.