Upon invitation of W.F. Bronson we gladly took a trip over the lamented Tonawanda Valley from Rushford to Cuba last Friday, (Dec. 4) and the excursion was doubtless not only the last of the season, but the last forever, on the present rails at least.
The repairing gang reached the crossing just this side of the large trestle at Cuba Thursday afternoon and the continuous parallel of rails once more united the two towns.
Friday morning Mr. Bronson drove over from Franklinville, accompanied by his wife and her parents, Rev. and Mrs. G.W. Varnum, whom she had been visiting at that place. After a sumptuous dinner at the Globe the party, which included Mr. and Mrs. Bronson, Rev. and Mrs. Varnum, Mr. J. Smith and the Spectator's man of all work, reported to the depot, long since vacant, and there found the car in readiness and in charge of Frank Mingous of Painted Post. This car which is used for inspecting roads consists of a small upright engine which furnishes power by means of a belt to one of the axles, seats at either end, a canopy top over the entire car which is mounted on spiral springs and rises as easy as a coach.
Mr. Brown took the position at the throttle and at 12:55 we pulled out of town with neither orders or right over other trains. Mr. Bronson had been over the road but few times and having precious freight on board, wisely run very carefully. We passed Hardy's at 1:10 and stopped at G.D. Metcalf's some ten minutes for water.
Rawson was reached at 1:35 and Morgans at 2:05. At the reservoir another stop was made for water and to oil around and after about fifteen minutes we started again and reached Cuba at 2:45. The turntable, which was carried with us, is made of two planks with cross pieces and a short plank with a pivot in it as a foundation. The engine is run on to the planks, which rest on the pivot, until it balances and then can be easily turned.
Although it had begun snowing and the rails were wet, the return trip was made much quicker and the running time was scarcely an hour and Fireman Mingous kept the steam "popping" most of the time. At Rawson summit we overtook the trucks on which rails had been brought down by horse power and they were set aside to let us pass, and from Hardy's we pushed in four trucks with a gang of men.
We were surprised to find the road bed in such good condition. Much of the way it seemed as firm and smooth as ever. Around the reservoir the track was so overgrown with grass and weeds that the rails seemed to be laid on the ground without ties. Of course farm crossings in many places had been taken up and had to be put down again and a few trestles had to be repaired, but it is now in pretty good shape and Mr. Bronson expects to get a heavier engine to haul the iron to Cuba. The rails are in prime condition and of a very desirable pattern. They are worth about $1,500 per mile and find a ready market among the lumber camps and various places where short lines are needed.
All enjoyed the trip end the ladies displayed considerable pluck in making the run over a road which had been idle and decaying for five years. Chauncey M. Depew in his private car has less rights then had we.
In this connection a brief history at the road may be of interest and will bring back memories which are fast getting beyond recall. Our esteemed townsman, J. B. Gordon, might perhaps be well called the Father of the Tonawanda Valley, or rather this end of it, as he went to Buffalo and laid the matter before P. G. Taylor and showed up the feasibility of such a road. Other men became interested and finally a plan was proposed March 28, 1881 by which the road would be built if Rushford would taken $20,000 and Cuba $30,000 worth of bonds and furnish the right of way.
This was the chance Rushford long had sought. Messrs. C. J. Elmer, C. W. Woodworth, . B. Gordon, O. T. Stacy, W. W. Bush, W. E. Eyes and others took hold of the matter and raised about $18,000 for bonds and $1,200 to pay right of way where it had to be bought. Cuba raised about the same amount. Later Rushford built the round house. In the summer of fall of 1881 the company under the superintendency of David Kirkpatrick began work on the Cuba end and later in the fall some work was done at Hardys, and then there was a let-up and for a time there was some doubt as to whether work would be resumed. However in February of 1882 George Bancroft of Cuba began work with a wheelbarrow gang in the swamp between Hardys and Rawson. In April Joe Antionelle and the Italians came, and began work this side (east) of Hardys. C. J. Hardaway first saw Rushford where he found a most estimable wife, at this time. A little later another contractor began work at Arcade, and the road was hurried to completion.
In June the iron gang reached here from Cuba and the day of their arrival was gloriously celebrated. A picnic was held in H. T. Chase's grove and the band escorted the men - Italians and all - to the tables which were loaded with the offerings of the good people of this place.
An excursion was run to Cuba the Fourth of July. Some business was then done between Rushford and Cuba, but the road was not opened for traffic the entire length until September 4, 1882, and September 25th a time table went into effect which gave Rushford the best train service of any town in this locality. A train left here early in the morning which took passengers to Attica in time for trains to Buffalo and Rochester and they could have nearly all day in either city and reach Rushford at ten o'clock that night; another train went to Cuba in the morning in time for trains either way on the Erie and returned to Rushford after they arrived, and the early train to Attica came back through to Cuba and returned here after train 12 arrived; the mail train also came through from Attica to Cuba and returned, bringing mail from Rochester and Buffalo. But this too excellent service was suicidal to the road and after a year or so a receiver was appointed. November 13, 1882 the road began carrying the mails and express and the telegraph line was put up that winter.
Rushford then began to boom immensely and-in the year 1884 it was estimated
that about $40,000 was expended here in building and repairing. May 7, 1884
the corner stone of the Brick Block was laid with proper ceremonies, in the
"north-east" corner. The stores of Messrs. Merrill and Taylor, the fine residences
of Messrs. Gilbert, Holden, Colburn, Bush, Dresser and Charles Gordon, the mill
and tenement houses of J. B. Gordon & Son, the Hardy House, the meat market,
etc., were built. We were really "in it", and this stroke of
enterprise which did so much for Rushford, we believe, was a direct result of
the T. V.
The $20,000 raised by this town did not come from the poorer people, but the building of the road helped many people of the poorer class, and the building boom was a great benefit to all classes; hence, although we have lost the road, we have profited much by its existence.
In May 1884 a night freight was put as and this was about the culmination of the prosperity of the road. January l9, 1885 the mail train was taken off and February 16, 1885 the employees struck, four months pay being due them. In about a week trains began running irregularly and the latter part of March did not run at all. This made great inconvenience in getting freight and our merchants were about to make arrangements to get their freight by some other means when March 31st a train came through from Attica and one train was run, until July 20th when another train was put on which stayed here nights. November 20th there was another strike, three months pay being due. The engines remained here about a month when Superintendent Loomis took them to Attica. In January 1886 he came here to confer with the business men as to the feasibility of operating the road from here to Cuba, and thought it could be done for about $500 per month. It was not tried.
April 12, 1886 one train began running, with Washburn engineer, George Briggs conductor and Jenks traveled on the train, selling tickets and tending to the freight business. This poor service was continued until October 16, 1886 when by order of the receiver trains were discontinued south of Sandusky. From that time the rust and weeds have reveled unmolested along the line, and mention of the T. V. has not been a pleasant topic to our citizens when abroad, unless it was something about its being operated again.
Nearly all the bonds taken by Rushford parties were sold in December 1885, at 24 1/2 cents on a dollar. The only fatal accident which occurred on this end, at least, was when the train ran into the washout this side of Hardys and Mr. Kelley was killed and Fred Gordon injured.
As to the future of the road that will soon be known. Mr. Bronson had orders to disturb the road bed as little as possible, and he says the company who control the road is composed of prominent Wall Street men and they are as yet undecided as to what they will do, but expect to decide by spring, and then the future of the road will doubtless be determined.
'Tis hoped by all that the road may be made a standard gauge and operated, but in case it is thrown up, what will become of the land is a question often heard. Many gave the right of way, but gave no deed and others gave a deed with the proviso that the land should revert to the original owner if for any cause the road should not be operated. In such cases the company would doubtless lay no claim to the land, but where the right of way was purchased and a warantee deed given, it seems right that the parties should buy it back if they want it, and they doubtless will have to do so.
Farewell to the old T. V. As we watch its spirit take its flight, south-ward, we'll forget what we did for it and appreciate what it has done for us, and stand ready to welcome a broader and better road, which under a more business like and economical management, we think, would pay.