Hedrick, Iowa
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Do you have any railroad information about Hedrick, Iowa?If you have any photos or other information relating to Hedrick,
Iowa please contribute to this page.
From M&StL Yaho! Groups List: Date: Fri, 11 Jul
2003 From: "Nicholas Pitsch" pitschni@earthlink.net The extant Hedrick depot was I believe the second or third station built to serve the Milwaukee and what became the M&StL. I seem to recall reading a fire took the original in the late 1880's-1890's, and the replacement burnt down about 1909-1910. As far as I know, the design was pretty much unique, though it sort of reminds me of what was at Linby and Cone(sville). It was relocated about 1978-1979 (was cut into three pieces to move), and once had a CB&Q wooden caboose on display on the west side - it was later sold, and perhaps is the one now on display in Creston (will have to check the number to verify this). Interestingly, the present location of station at Hedrick is a few yards south of where the CB&Q station was located (where the CB&Q;was on a bridge over the MILW in the north part of the town). The MILW tracks were still in for a years adjacent to the station before they were taken up in 1981. As I understand the story, the M&StL actually laid the track south from Hedrick to Ottumwa on roadbed graded, but unfinished and abandoned by a Wabash affiliate (they were building to St. Paul, but the grading only got as far as Cedar Rapids). The M&StL received trackage rights to Ottumwa in exchange for the construction. The MILW built south from Marion, and the final link was put into service in 1885 between Hedrick and Hayesville. The MILW had decided to build south towards Kansas City (considered Rock Island territory) in retaliation for the Rock Island building north towards the Twin Cities (considered Milwaukee territory). Because of the M&StL's relationship of three of the four directions tracks went by the original and subsequent stations, it is plausible to me it the IaC had a role in construction. The agents staffing the office at least since the 1950's, were MILW employees. Somewhere I have an old newspaper article on the fire(s), and also, around here there is a picture of the 1909 fire (the one lost then was similar in appearance to the present one). N. L. Pitsch Keokuk County native. From M&StL Yaho! Groups Post # 1028 Date: Dec 26,
2003 From: "Nicholas Pitsch" pitschni@earthlink.net From the Keokuk County News, dateline 27 November 1902 The Union Depot at Hedrick burns to the ground Sunday Afternoon Operator Chase narrowly escapes with his life. Just as he gets out of the burning building roof fell in. Some freight destroyed. The Union Depot in Hedrick used by the Milwaukee and Iowa Central railways burned to the ground Sunday afternoon. Fire was discovered about 2 o'clock by the train men of an approaching freight. The agent and operator were at work in the depot, but they were so busy that they did not notice the depot was on fire. Operator Chase did not realize the headway the fire had made and went to work to get out the large coupon ticket case. He was warned to come out. Finally, he did climb out of the window. The roof fell in just as he struck the platform and the amount of timbers that fell he might have been killed. G. H. Fleener lost four slot machines that will cost him $350. The depot was erected in 1890. The railway companies may build a fine brick depot. The fire originated in the cupola, supposed to have caught fire from a passing freight train. Several residences came near catching fire. [comment - as the two lines were built in 1882-1883 timeframe, something would have preceded the 1890 structure. And of course, the note about a brick structure was wishful thinking - another wooden one replaced this one] ------------------------------------------- From the Hedrick newspaper (name not given), dateline 13 December 1899 The Iowa Central discontinues the Hedrick Route. Sunday Morning was the last trip made by the Hedrick Route trains. Few other changes made in time. The rumors and reports that have been afloat for some time regarding the Hedrick Route trains are now at rest. The trains are discontinuing as far as Hedrick and Ottumwa are concerned, the last trip made Sunday morning. The trains now run from Oskaloosa to Albia and Moulton instead of Hedrick and Ottumwa. [comment - this would indicate some kind of operation in coordination with the Wabash, evidently. The Wabash had a presence in Ottumwa and Albia, the latter being likely the more used route, as Ottumwa was the end of the line, but Albia was on the Des Moines line. In order for the IaC to reach Ottumwa, they would have used the MILW from Hedrick south.] ------------------------------------------- Saw but didn't copy an article from the Hedrick paper written by the last RR agent in Hedrick - he wrote about the history of the line, and of his transfer upon closing up the station in town for the last time (had picture of him locking the door). The story said he was a C&NW employee, and that he was being transferred to a new agency at Elm, Illinois, at the location of a new coal mine being opened. Didn't record the date, but noted it was marked 1974, though this would have occurred in 1971, with the line being removed. Might have to go back when time allows to get another reading on the date. ------------------------------------------- In other nearby news, the MILW Hayesville depot is now history - only the chimney remains upright. |
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