Due to the 5K character limit on video descriptions, we are once again forced to include relevant information in the comments. The SFX Credits for this video include the following: (FS = www.freesound.org) - Steam Whistle (71778) by Bidone, CC0, FS - 08 Horse and cart approach, stop, harness and cart removed, BBC - Liquid, Mud, Organic, viscous,Squishy, gloopy (637003) by julianmateo, FS - Mud Volcano Field - Salton Sea (415608) by RTB45, FS - 32 football crowd during match, BBC - g52-03 stage coach exit (437072) by craigsmith, FS - g38-14-horse wagon gallop in (437112) by craigsmith, FS - 41 Sawing Wood, Authentic Sound Effects V3 - 39 Hammering, Authentic Sound Effects V3 - r09070 building on fire (483313) by craigsmith, FS - transition whoosh 4d (167842) by speedenza, FS Link: freesound.org/s/167842/ License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 - Explode, boom, explosion, bomb (703485) by FALL-E, FS
Have enjoyed every episode. What I think many do not realize is the economic and social impact the abandonment of the railroad had on communities, especially the rural ones that depended on this right of way for their very existence. The Chicago North Western couldn't pull out the tracks and infrastructure fast enough in the early 1970s following the "merger" in 1968. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and observation - and for watching the entire series! We very much appreciate your support of our channel! Indeed, it is difficult to understand this impact until you start traveling through these places, understanding how dependent they were on railroads for both passenger travel and freight shipping. Most goods that came into or left town were through the railroad. Most people arriving or departing went via the railroad. And so towns naturally grew up around this central portal. When the transportation hub goes away, then there is a large hole left in the middle of these towns. Some have successfully navigated this catastrophic change, while others have struggled to hold on. And this is true of thousands of small towns across the United States. Thanks again for taking the time to comment!
And thank you for the 22nd time in watching our videos! Thanks for the continuing support and encouragement! We very much appreciate it! Glad to do our part in telling the many stories that happened along this line. Thanks again!
Thanks for watching the series - and thanks too for the kind words and the support! We very much appreciate it! We've got at least a few more CGW videos yet coming, as part of the series. But we too feel the loss as we approach the end of the series. It's been a adventure, a learning experience, and we've met dozens and dozens of very nice people along the way. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this. My maternal grandparents families were from the Lamont/Aurora/Stanley areas. I'm a direct descendent of Abiathar (some say Abba-thar, some say it Abi-a-thar) Richardson and my grandparents are buried west of Jakway (say Jakeway) park. Grandma graduated from Stanley high school and was always proud of her little town and school. Great job and have enjoyed your work so much. All the best from Iowa.
Very glad that you found this interesting and that it gave you pleasant reminders of your family legacy. Wow - a descedant of the Richardson family! The Richardsons are a deep part of the regional history in Buchanan County. So very glad that you could watch and comment! Thanks again!
TH-cam has an endless supply of videos for me to choose from. Most of I have to pass over. Fortunately I watched one of yours, and have watched all of them ( at least once). And have anxiously looked forward to each new one. Anyway I appreciate your historical content with the interjection of humor. Thank you!
Thanks very much for watching all of our videos - and for the kind words of support! Very glad that you find these videos informative and interesting. That makes all the difference to us!
Thank you for another informative and history filled video on the Disused Stations of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. You showed us where the depots in Aurora and Stanley, Iowa were located. You included information on some of the other railroad structures in and near these two towns. You were able to show us the remains of some of the bridges over creeks that the Chicago Great Western built. The historical information about the founding of the two towns and some of the criminal and railroad related events that took place in the towns was alarming. The killing of Agnes May by her husband, Martin, on 20 July 18 in front of one of their daughters in front of the Aurora depot was tragic. The book, Chicago Great Western Depots Along the Corn Belt Route by Joe Pieren and Jerry Huddelston has nothing to add to your comments about the depots themselves. On page 23 where there is a listing of the depots on the Second Division, which is the line between Oelwein and Chicago, the town name of Aurora and its telegraph Call letters of OU and the fact that it was a train order location. The information for Stanley on that same page indicates that it had a 16 x 50-foot depot, and its telegraph call letters were QV. On page 81 of the above book for Aurora there is mention in 1904 of the depot being repaired but there is no reason given for the repairs. Under that same date it states that Aurora is the beginning of double tracks to Oelwein and that an operator is on duty 24 hours a day. It also mentions "Depot reportedly a scene of a murder where a husband found his wife about to leave town for a divorce." Since the murder of Agnes May took place on 20 July 1893, the 1904 date in the book was the place where Joe and Jerry decided to make mention of the murder. The book confirms the electrification of the depot and platform area in 1923. An AFE (Authorization for Expenditure) dated 1971 says the C&NW closed the depot. The completion date for the closing of the Aurora depot reads "Completion date (estimated) for closing is Nov. 30, 1976." I have no idea what that last sentence means. The first notation for Stanley, Iowa on page 93 says Depot with no other information. A 1952 entry says the depot at Stanley, Iowa was retired and that it measured 16 x 56 feet. (Posted 26 August 2024 at 1923 CDT.)
Thanks again for the ongoing strong support of our channel, and for the additional set of information regarding Aurora and Stanley. We very much appreciate you taking the time to do this - and the careful watching of our videos. Thanks too for the kind words and encouragement!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Thanks too for the continued support! It is indeed an interesting journey, as it puts you in touch with many of the communities and infrastructure that were part of the rapid growth of our country. Well worth the trip. Thanks again!
Haven't been able to get to this until now. But it was worth the wait. As usual, the video has lived up to my expectations & i continue to learn some new things. In this case, the murder in Aurora. 1 small detail that caught my eye was the old spelling of Dubuque (DuBuque), that was common at that time, used in the certificate of purchase. & the president who signed it, Buchanan is the same person the county is named after. Seeing all the remains of the bridges, etc., was bittersweet as it reminds me of what was. Obviously, I feel like I am home as you are now near Oelwein & Stanley is part of the Oelwein Community School District. Of course, the final shot of the tower in Oelwein was like seeing an old friend. I am obviously looking forward to the next, & final video. Oelwein has so much CGW history. While much of the structure is still there, thanks in huge part to the Hub City Heritage Corporation's efforts, a lot no longer exists. & once again, the latest railroad to serve Oelwein is in the process of being merged with another. As you probably know Canadian National has bought Iowa Northern. So, it will be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully, they will keep operating in Oelwein. But once again, for now a railroad that operates in Dubuque is also operating in Oelwein.
Thanks for the ongoing support and encouragement! Always look forward to your thoughtful comments and observations. Very glad that you found this segment as interesting as many of the others. We are often surprised at the many compelling stories that emerge from these small towns. We don't seek them out. They simply pop up during our research. We are glad to bring them back to life, in telling the story of the railroad and these towns, whose histories were so intertwined. We hope to do a few more CGW videos at least, following our visit to Oelwein - covering the stub to Dekalb, and perhaps one or more videos showing new information gathered since we published some of these videos, often supplied by viewers. Thanks again for the support!
Thanks for the ongoing support and the kind words! Very glad that we could be helpful in mapping many of the artifacts along this route. Some are rather obvious from the maps - but others have turned out to be very pleasant surprises. Did you ever have a chance to check out the Aiken roundhouse?
@@BeHistoric not yet my car wont make it without killing me ... i lost the winter window so am having to wait till fall now and then il work on a ride again
IF YOU NEED AN ASSISTANT... I live in North Aurora, IL and would LOVE to accompany you both on some of your excursions in the area ! -Mark Vogt | VOGTLAND OUTDOORS
Thanks for the offer! We tend to go out, sometimes on a moment's notice - depending upon the weather. But we'll keep that in mind for future excursions in the area. Thanks again! Thanks too for watching and commenting!
After the E.L. main was torn up through OHIO and Indiana, the ballast was scooped out by truck, cleaned and reused. I don't know what % was recycled but it was substantial.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment on multiple videos! We enjoy your comments and find them very informative, adding much to the narrative! Thank you!
It's crazy to think about how much energy went into the railroad system yet now there are so many arteries of it that are disused or converted to bike and hiking trails.
Indeed! The railroad system was once such a vital technology all across the US and the world - but now has been greatly diminished and largely forgotten in the US. Glad to see that Amtrak is seeing something of a resurgence in the past few years. Air travel is great - but the train is another great way to travel, much different and more relaxed than traveling via plane. Thanks again for the comment - and for the great music!
Due to the 5K character limit on video descriptions, we are once again forced to include relevant information in the comments. The SFX Credits for this video include the following: (FS = www.freesound.org)
- Steam Whistle (71778) by Bidone, CC0, FS
- 08 Horse and cart approach, stop, harness and cart removed, BBC
- Liquid, Mud, Organic, viscous,Squishy, gloopy (637003) by julianmateo, FS
- Mud Volcano Field - Salton Sea (415608) by RTB45, FS
- 32 football crowd during match, BBC
- g52-03 stage coach exit (437072) by craigsmith, FS
- g38-14-horse wagon gallop in (437112) by craigsmith, FS
- 41 Sawing Wood, Authentic Sound Effects V3
- 39 Hammering, Authentic Sound Effects V3
- r09070 building on fire (483313) by craigsmith, FS
- transition whoosh 4d (167842) by speedenza, FS
Link: freesound.org/s/167842/
License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
- Explode, boom, explosion, bomb (703485) by FALL-E, FS
Have enjoyed every episode. What I think many do not realize is the economic and social impact the abandonment of the railroad had on communities, especially the rural ones that depended on this right of way for their very existence. The Chicago North Western couldn't pull out the tracks and infrastructure fast enough in the early 1970s following the "merger" in 1968. Hindsight is always 20/20.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and observation - and for watching the entire series! We very much appreciate your support of our channel! Indeed, it is difficult to understand this impact until you start traveling through these places, understanding how dependent they were on railroads for both passenger travel and freight shipping. Most goods that came into or left town were through the railroad. Most people arriving or departing went via the railroad. And so towns naturally grew up around this central portal. When the transportation hub goes away, then there is a large hole left in the middle of these towns. Some have successfully navigated this catastrophic change, while others have struggled to hold on. And this is true of thousands of small towns across the United States. Thanks again for taking the time to comment!
thank you for the 22nd time for a great job and memorializing this history that could very well be lost without folks like you!
And thank you for the 22nd time in watching our videos! Thanks for the continuing support and encouragement! We very much appreciate it! Glad to do our part in telling the many stories that happened along this line. Thanks again!
Another outstanding episode! Sad to be nearing the end of this highly educational and enjoyable series.
Thanks for watching the series - and thanks too for the kind words and the support! We very much appreciate it! We've got at least a few more CGW videos yet coming, as part of the series. But we too feel the loss as we approach the end of the series. It's been a adventure, a learning experience, and we've met dozens and dozens of very nice people along the way. Thanks again!
Another great episode! Joyce and Brian, you two have really transported us back in time to experience the CGW.
So glad that you enjoyed the episode, as well as the series. That means a great deal to us! Thanks too for taking the time to comment and the support!
Thank you so much for this. My maternal grandparents families were from the Lamont/Aurora/Stanley areas. I'm a direct descendent of Abiathar (some say Abba-thar, some say it Abi-a-thar) Richardson and my grandparents are buried west of Jakway (say Jakeway) park. Grandma graduated from Stanley high school and was always proud of her little town and school.
Great job and have enjoyed your work so much. All the best from Iowa.
Very glad that you found this interesting and that it gave you pleasant reminders of your family legacy. Wow - a descedant of the Richardson family! The Richardsons are a deep part of the regional history in Buchanan County. So very glad that you could watch and comment! Thanks again!
TH-cam has an endless supply of videos for me to choose from. Most of I have to pass over. Fortunately I watched one of yours, and have watched all of them ( at least once). And have anxiously looked forward to each new one. Anyway I appreciate your historical content with the interjection of humor. Thank you!
Thanks very much for watching all of our videos - and for the kind words of support! Very glad that you find these videos informative and interesting. That makes all the difference to us!
Another very informative video done very professionally. Keep up the excellent work!
Very glad that you enjoyed this video! Thanks for the kind words and support! Very much appreciated!
Another great video!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thank you for another informative and history filled video on the Disused Stations of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. You showed us where the depots in Aurora and Stanley, Iowa were located. You included information on some of the other railroad structures in and near these two towns. You were able to show us the remains of some of the bridges over creeks that the Chicago Great Western built. The historical information about the founding of the two towns and some of the criminal and railroad related events that took place in the towns was alarming. The killing of Agnes May by her husband, Martin, on 20 July 18 in front of one of their daughters in front of the Aurora depot was tragic. The book, Chicago Great Western Depots Along the Corn Belt Route by Joe Pieren and Jerry Huddelston has nothing to add to your comments about the depots themselves. On page 23 where there is a listing of the depots on the Second Division, which is the line between Oelwein and Chicago, the town name of Aurora and its telegraph Call letters of OU and the fact that it was a train order location. The information for Stanley on that same page indicates that it had a 16 x 50-foot depot, and its telegraph call letters were QV. On page 81 of the above book for Aurora there is mention in 1904 of the depot being repaired but there is no reason given for the repairs. Under that same date it states that Aurora is the beginning of double tracks to Oelwein and that an operator is on duty 24 hours a day. It also mentions "Depot reportedly a scene of a murder where a husband found his wife about to leave town for a divorce." Since the murder of Agnes May took place on 20 July 1893, the 1904 date in the book was the place where Joe and Jerry decided to make mention of the murder. The book confirms the electrification of the depot and platform area in 1923. An AFE (Authorization for Expenditure) dated 1971 says the C&NW closed the depot. The completion date for the closing of the Aurora depot reads "Completion date (estimated) for closing is Nov. 30, 1976." I have no idea what that last sentence means. The first notation for Stanley, Iowa on page 93 says Depot with no other information. A 1952 entry says the depot at Stanley, Iowa was retired and that it measured 16 x 56 feet. (Posted 26 August 2024 at 1923 CDT.)
Thanks again for the ongoing strong support of our channel, and for the additional set of information regarding Aurora and Stanley. We very much appreciate you taking the time to do this - and the careful watching of our videos. Thanks too for the kind words and encouragement!
Great job as always.
I made the trek to Oelwein along the right of way from Minneapolis 2 years ago and wanting to do it again.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Thanks too for the continued support! It is indeed an interesting journey, as it puts you in touch with many of the communities and infrastructure that were part of the rapid growth of our country. Well worth the trip. Thanks again!
Great video, love the commentary & very interesting. Thanks for sharing, Joyce & Brian.
So glad that you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching, for taking the time to comment, and the encouraging words!
Haven't been able to get to this until now. But it was worth the wait. As usual, the video has lived up to my expectations & i continue to learn some new things. In this case, the murder in Aurora.
1 small detail that caught my eye was the old spelling of Dubuque (DuBuque), that was common at that time, used in the certificate of purchase. & the president who signed it, Buchanan is the same person the county is named after.
Seeing all the remains of the bridges, etc., was bittersweet as it reminds me of what was.
Obviously, I feel like I am home as you are now near Oelwein & Stanley is part of the Oelwein Community School District.
Of course, the final shot of the tower in Oelwein was like seeing an old friend. I am obviously looking forward to the next, & final video. Oelwein has so much CGW history. While much of the structure is still there, thanks in huge part to the Hub City Heritage Corporation's efforts, a lot no longer exists. & once again, the latest railroad to serve Oelwein is in the process of being merged with another. As you probably know Canadian National has bought Iowa Northern. So, it will be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully, they will keep operating in Oelwein. But once again, for now a railroad that operates in Dubuque is also operating in Oelwein.
Thanks for the ongoing support and encouragement! Always look forward to your thoughtful comments and observations. Very glad that you found this segment as interesting as many of the others. We are often surprised at the many compelling stories that emerge from these small towns. We don't seek them out. They simply pop up during our research. We are glad to bring them back to life, in telling the story of the railroad and these towns, whose histories were so intertwined. We hope to do a few more CGW videos at least, following our visit to Oelwein - covering the stub to Dekalb, and perhaps one or more videos showing new information gathered since we published some of these videos, often supplied by viewers. Thanks again for the support!
😊❤
Glad that you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching and commenting!
another great vid and now im done mapping as i already mapped the town of Oelwein
Thanks for the ongoing support and the kind words! Very glad that we could be helpful in mapping many of the artifacts along this route. Some are rather obvious from the maps - but others have turned out to be very pleasant surprises. Did you ever have a chance to check out the Aiken roundhouse?
@@BeHistoric not yet my car wont make it without killing me ... i lost the winter window so am having to wait till fall now and then il work on a ride again
IF YOU NEED AN ASSISTANT...
I live in North Aurora, IL and would LOVE to accompany you both on some of your excursions in the area !
-Mark Vogt | VOGTLAND OUTDOORS
Thanks for the offer! We tend to go out, sometimes on a moment's notice - depending upon the weather. But we'll keep that in mind for future excursions in the area. Thanks again! Thanks too for watching and commenting!
After the E.L. main was torn up through OHIO and Indiana, the ballast was scooped out by truck, cleaned and reused.
I don't know what % was recycled but it was substantial.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment on multiple videos! We enjoy your comments and find them very informative, adding much to the narrative! Thank you!
It's crazy to think about how much energy went into the railroad system yet now there are so many arteries of it that are disused or converted to bike and hiking trails.
Indeed! The railroad system was once such a vital technology all across the US and the world - but now has been greatly diminished and largely forgotten in the US. Glad to see that Amtrak is seeing something of a resurgence in the past few years. Air travel is great - but the train is another great way to travel, much different and more relaxed than traveling via plane. Thanks again for the comment - and for the great music!
Service was reduced in late 68 and cnw only ran the local to dubuque this line lasted until the early 80s
I think a bridge washed out around the Durango area in the early 70's. That's supposedly why through service to Dubuque was cut, from what I was told.
Thanks for the additional information and the comment! That helps!