Rail road tag??

[texan connection]

O.k. I know its a tag but for what use? maybe a mail bag? But a junction house is a track switching shack someone worked in Right? any help would be appreiated

 

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[Montana Jim]

http://www.rootsweb.com/~txrober2/HEARNEDEPOT.htm


Maybe they can help with your find? The site has a msg board... UPDATE: Just tried the board and it's a dead link...

 

[texan connection]

Way to go Montana, I am hunting not far from that depot but I belive it was built after the first railroad and during the second (east to west) crossed it now it has been Move about 150 yds down the road (outa confuse some folks 100 yrs from now) the junction house thing is whats got me stumped.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Local businesses in May 1885 included two saloons, a gambling house, a grocery store, a fruit and cigar stand, a drugstore and news stand, and a dressmaker, as well as two boarding houses, two restaurants, the Mobberly Hotel, and the Junction Hotel.

Could be the Old Junction Hotel. There was an old hotel at 1200 Market street that was torn down in 1913

 

[Montana Jim]

Local businesses in May 1885 included two saloons, a gambling house, a grocery store, a fruit and cigar stand, a drugstore and news stand, and a dressmaker, as well as two boarding houses, two restaurants, the Mobberly Hotel, and the Junction Hotel.

Could be the Old Junction Hotel. There was an old hotel at 1200 Market street that was torn down in 1913

Good job Gypsy!!

 

[texan connection]

Thanks Gypsy, I'm gonna check out the junction hotel propery, this was actually found along with other things dated 1852 to 1904 at the original stage coach drop b-4 Hearne was Hearne, so it was doubtedly lost after 1868, when the first R.R came through. Much is still a mystery, my threoy is, this was the original R.R drop or Depot B-4 the other R.R crossed it (this property just dident get the Fame, which is good for me) and was built in 1901. I wonder if junction house 5's location is a key to that answer. Other dug clues have lead to this theory. If you were building a R.R would you stop 100's of yard b-4 the only structure (the stage coach drop, and certainly not knowing where the other R.R would cross 30 yrs later). Or Make that structure your H.Q.? So If I am correct, not only was this the only stage coach dorp, it was also the first train Depot.

 

[TreasureTales]

TC, I'd have to ask myself this question: would the stage horses spook when the train rolled in? If so, I wouldn't build a stage stop and a train depot at the same location.

Have you seen this website? http://www.rtis.com/hearne/HearneLocal/Attractions.htm

Your interesting find doesn't look like a key fob to me, but more like a watch fob - like for a train conductor maybe?

 

[Montana Jim]

The horses prolly would not have spooked... maybe once before they would get used to it.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

I found some references to "Old Hearne".......and werent train rails laid somewhat along old wagon and stage trails? I dont think the horses would be spooked in those days either as it was the norm.

Hearne's Historic Railroad Depot was recently moved across TX 6 from where it had been for the past 100 years. Efforts are underway to transform this depot into a museum featuring exhibits about the local area as well as railroad and train memorabilia. This depot's floor plans are on file in the U.S. Library of Congress American Memory Collection.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

and

 

[DCMatt]

I like the hotel/room theory. I did a quick search on "junction house". I got several hits for boarding houses or hotels located NEAR the DEPOT back in those days.

Gypsyheart also makes a good point about the building being moved. There are many historic buildings and houses that are no longer sitting in their original spot.

DCMatt

 

[Montana Jim]

So... maybe a room key tag for the "Junction House" boarding house?

 

[texan connection]

Hi. I went and looked at 1200 Market street (north) but havent quite pinpointed it yet (the street sign ends at 400 block), it is along hwy 6, a old texas trail (as old as you are gonna get round here) it is actually north of the 1900 depots original sight adding to my Theory of the first depot being where I have found this (and much more) Though I would bet that the actual sight of that hotel is now under hwy 6 in Hearne. The sight we are hunting has very litle trash but seems to go no further than 50 yds or so from the present tracks, I belive most of the activity was on the other side and is likely littered in modern trash and concret. But, all that being said I am leaning more to the Hotel key tag now. It is funny however that the 1900 depot has now been moved between what I believe the original R.R stop was and the later 1900 stop was.Thanks ya'll

 

[Gypsy Heart]

1200 Market St .....this was built on old hotel site about 1910-1913

 

[texan connection]

Yes Gypsy, that home is on 1200 south market street(market street is Hwy 6), we are talkin 1200 north market street google earth 1200 market street Hearne Texas then scroll north (you will also see a arrow type foundation at the train intersection where the 1900 depot was, aprox. 100 market street north) There are a few old buildings around this spot with dutch roof's and stucko siding indicating pre 1900's also one's front steps are right up agienst now hwy 6 and they use another entrance.

Thank you for your intrest Gypsy, I honestly think we have something to teach the Hearne historical society but want to hit the place a little longer first and find absolute proof of this being the real first depot, Also there is Nothing on the net about this stagecouch drop, I found its location from history books and a lot of walking. I have already proof of its being the stagecoach drop as it has a old spring surronded by brick, and have a pic of that over 40 yrs old, not to mention the 1850 coins, one that shows No wear.
Funny (but good for us) how the more significant historical spots sometimes go overlooked while the Obvious spots get the recognition.

Almost all counties have spots like this,but most are so trash or concrete covered that it is sometimes impossible to hunt them.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Frances Hearne, who married her cousin George Washington Hearne, lived in Hearne where she and her husband owned the first hotel to be erected in the town. This hotel was located on the corner of Market and Barton Streets. George Washington Hearne was a great hunter and through this skill provided the fresh meat for his hotel.
The house that I pictured is the house that sits there now and was the site of the former hotel....I thought that was the hotel you were looking for......

 

[ModernMiner]

Very cool find. You guys with your IDing of things never ceases to amaze me. Great job.
-MM-

 

[DCMatt]

Hey tex-connect,

The article posted by gypsyheart says the passenger depot was built in 1901. I looked at the Sanborne fire insurance maps for Hearne. Neither the Nov. 1901 nor the May 1906 map show the Union Depot. It finally appears on the 1911 map. I can't imagine that the insurance company would overlook such an important structure.

There are MANY industrial buildings, mills, and platforms along the tracks (cotton, oil, and lumber). Although if you are hunting north of the junction, that area is not covered by the maps.

I didn't find anything called Junction House. Hotels listed were Exchange (near the depot), Oriental, and Oxford (both on the other side of town). Lots of unnamed rooming houses, too. These were on the later - post 1925 map.

However, there was a Junction City lumber company on the 1896 and 1901. That is the only place I see the word Junction used.

Of course, the Sanborne maps are only a "snap shot" of that specific time. Check with the Chamber of Commerce. They may have records of a Junction House.

Have you considered that the tag came from a different city and was dropped by a passenger or RR worker? It's a mystery...

DCMatt

 

[Gypsy Heart]

LOCOMOTIVE STOLEN IN HEARNE MAY 20, 1876

A strange occurrence took place here tonight. The northbound freight train on the I. & G. N. Railroad, after Finishing work in the yard, pulled up above a crossing at the Junction House, and the train men were all at supper when some unknown party took the engine and four cars and left.

 

[bakergeol]

LOCOMOTIVE STOLEN IN HEARNE MAY 20, 1876

A strange occurrence took place here tonight. The northbound freight train on the I. & G. N. Railroad, after Finishing work in the yard, pulled up above a crossing at the Junction House, and the train men were all at supper when some unknown party took the engine and four cars and left.

Dang it Gypsy- beat me by a minute.

However in my copy- Junction is not capitalized. Junction house is a common name for a hotel for the boarding of railroad guests. I am seeing a lot of references to Juction Houses all over the country associated with railroads. For example another here is "in 1849 as Junction House, a railroad hotel providing overnight stays" So junction Houses were common with railroads. So probably a luggage tag/room? with the junction house for Hearne Texas.
George


LOCOMOTIVE STOLEN IN HEARNE MAY 20, 1876

A strange occurrence took place here tonight. The northbound freight train on the I. & G. N. Railroad, after Finishing work in the yard, pulled up above a crossing at the junction House, and the train men were all at supper when some unknown party took the engine and four cars and left.

The engine was followed by the engineer afoot, who found the engine two and a half miles north. The steam was shut off with 90 pounds of pressure. It was supposed that this was done to injure the company.