100 years ago in TEXAS

[SSW9389]

Well its midsummer with the second half to go. One hundred years ago the Stephenville, North and South Texas Railway was building south from Stephenville to Hamilton. The subject of my book was living in Hamilton at that time. It would have been a walk of about four miles from Hamilton to the bridge site on the Leon River.

CHAPTER -1

Early life in Hamilton, TEXAS 1898-1917

Cecil Willard Standefer walked with his grandfather William Rufus Standefer through the woods and across the fields that Sunday. Little red-headed Cecil was 8 years old that summer 1907 day. He was going to see the tracks of the new railroad being built by the Stephenville North & South Texas Railway. Cecil lived in Hamilton, TEXAS. He watched the construction train coming to deliver the materials needed to build the line on toward Hamilton. An SN&ST Ten Wheeler would have been on the point of this train, either the #50 or the #51. This was the first railroad, first steam locomotive, and first train that Cecil ever saw.

 

Ed Cooper

Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society 

 

[SSW9389]

The newly-built tracks of the Stephenville North & South Texas Railway
were just North of Hamilton on Sunday December 22, 1907 as a crew of
men was laying the rail on the freshly positioned ties. Track laying
up to the new station in Hamilton was accomplished by December 24,
1907. Cecil Standefer would have seen these events, he was nine years
old at the time.

Ed Cooper
SN&ST Preservation Society #3

[SSW9389]

The first passenger train to Hamilton from Stephenville arrived on Christmas Day 1907 behind Ten Wheeler #51. The whole town showed up to celebrate the arrival on the new railroad and the promise of prosperity that it made. Hamilton, TEXAS was finally on the railroad map and it happened 100 years ago today.

[videomaker]

This is very interesting and good writting also...

Thank You for sharing...When will the book be out?

Merry Christmas

[SSW9389]

Cotton Belt Engineer will hopefully be published next year. The book is about 3/4 drafted now, but still needs some primary source material to fill it out. C. W. "Red" Standefer worked for Cotton Belt from 1917-1967 in engine service in TEXAS.

This is very interesting and good writting also...

Thank You for sharing...When will the book be out?

Merry Christmas

[videomaker]

Ok then ! sounds good..Im always looking for Texas stories..Espesially those close to home...