Friday, September 21, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: September 21

September 21, 1904 – One of the most serious wrecks in the history of Northern Minn. railroading occurred in the Crookston railroad yards this afternoon. A heavily loaded east bound wheat freight crashed into the ditch north of the city and piled twenty or more wheat cars and their contents into a solid mass of debris and wreckage. A defective switch was responsible for the accident, and the fact that no lives were lost is considered marvelous.

Hobos, who were riding beneath the cars upon the tracks, had narrow escapes and several were severely injured. The engine and fore part of the train got safely over the switch that was responsible for the accident, but the heavily laden wheat cars pried the switch open and the resultant shift of the tracks resulted in the tearing up the tracks and ditching nearly the entire train. The track was torn up for half a mile and all train service delayed while the wreckers are at work. Steel rails were literally chopped to pieces by the force of the impact. There are 3,000 bushels of grain on the tracks. A man is missing who may be in the wreckage.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Bad Wreck. Freight Cars Piled up at Crookston—Steel Rails Chopped to Bits.”; Sept. 22, 1904; p. 4.


Crookston Railroad Depot

http://www.lakesnwoods.com/CrookstonGallery.htm
               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com




No comments:

Post a Comment