I have made some great contacts through this forum and now met one face to face.

[ChiefEagles]

I have gotten to know some of you on here like family. Well today the wife [yes, can't believe it] and I went to a TCA train thing at the NC State Fairgrounds. Got up with Keithrd from this forum. He is the nicest guy. His last name is Dawes and my Grandmother on my Mom's side was a Dawes. So now I am claiming him as kin. He introduced me to a guy who can help me round up the track and switches I need for the big layout. Thanks gang for all of your help and being so friendly.

[Dr. John]

Chief,

I live in a community named Dawes (a suburb of Mobile, AL). As I understand, the Dawes family raised Satsuma oranges in this area. There used to be a small railroad that connected the packing shed (still standing about a mile from my house) to the L&N (now CSX) mainline at Theodore, AL. Apparently the family pulled up stakes back in the 1930s after two straight severe winters killed off the trees. Any connections to your family that you are aware of?

[ChiefEagles]

Never can tell. The Dawes family I am related too is from eastern NC. Wilson County [was part of Edgecombe Co.]. Owned a large farming operation and had quite a few slaves [that was wrong but was accepted back then]. They spelled their name Daws but changed it later to Dawes. The family had lots of children and passed equal portions to their children and so on. Now I will get two small tobacco farms that came from the Dawes [my Mother's Mother's and my Mother's Uncle's who had no children but raised my Mom]. Several moved to Rocky Mount NC and one Dawes worked for ACL Railroad [ACL had their big shops in Rocky Mount, NC]. When ACL became Atlantic Seaboard, shops started closing. Now CSX has a switching yard there but the buildings that were the massive shops are empty and falling down. Sad. I can still see the big shops and guys welding on the big steam engines and etc. Use to ride with my Dad in his pickup to the shops [he was not a train man but wanted me to see] when we would go get used crossties. We used the crossties for pasture fence posts. Some are still standing today. Great memories. Wish I had a camera back then.

[Anonymous]

Frank thanks for the kind words,its great to get to know someone was they put forth their friendship on this forum but even better when you finally get to meet that person face to face. Really had a great time with you and Pam this past weekend at the show.Oh by the way how are you coming on her garden railroad? [(-D]
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Dr. John my Dad also had some family that was from the Birmingham area.
My grandad was born in Kansas and was said to have been a news butch (sold papers)on the AT & SANTA FE at one time?