Aberdeen Citizens Grab Shovels to Build Their Own Railroad
Facing economic uncertainty, the people of Aberdeen unite to personally construct a railroad grade to secure the city's future.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Monday, September 10, 1894, was a red letter day in the history of Aberdeen, when Mayor Weatherwax, at the head of twenty-five or more willing workers, led the way to the grade where the work of constructing the railroad into the city was commenced. All things come to those who work and wait, and so to the citizens who have worked and waited, and suffered disappointments, at last is to come that for which they have several years striven after. The railroad meeting Thursday evening was an enthusiastic one. Mayor C. R. Weatherwax was elected chairman and W. B. Mack, secretary. Remarks were made by the mayor, Captain J. M. Weatherwax, A.J. West, Richard T. Dabney and others, and when the objects of the meeting had been fully explained and subscriptions of lots, cash and labor asked for, nearly every man present put his name down for something. Samuel Benn gave 100 lots in Benn's Central addition to Aberdeen to be given for ten days' work each on the grade. Mr. P. V. Anderson, the supervising engineer, arrived Saturday evening and immediately went over the grade with Foreman Eugene France, and Monday morning the work was commenced at the end of the old grade just beyond Wilson's mill.
“All things come to those who work and wait, and so to the citizens who have worked and waited, and suffered disappointments, at last is to come that for which they have several years striven after.”
In an era of industrial uncertainty, Aberdeen's citizens took direct action, trading labor and land for infrastructure. This DIY approach to civic development echoes contemporary community-led initiatives to address local neglect in aging port cities.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.