I don't know if anyone has any information on this, but somewhere in my past, I learned that Harrelson was among the larger loading sites of mules in the state of Missouri. As recently as twenty years ago, you could look over to the west of the main line and see a very large horse barn. My guess would be that whoever owned the barn was a customer of the Frisco. The stock pens have been gone, probably, for many years prior to this. The concrete loading ramp, as I recall, was (probably is) still there. Harrelson was visible from Highway 71, on the west side. A large LP gas tank is there now, and I believe the track is gone. Bob Lenexa, KS
Interesting story, Bob. There's a fellow I've met in town who is a long-time agri-journalist with the Missouri College of Agriculture; I think he's a bit of a Missouri mule historian; if I can find him or bump into him, he might have some information or leads on this. Best Regards,
From about late November or December 1952 until about March 1953 I operated a tractor mower for the Frisco RR and mowed the right of way from near Harrisonville north all the way to Dodson. This was both north and south of Harrelson. As I recall, several trainloads of mules were loaded at Harrelson and moved to KC where they reportedly were quickly transported to the east coast and loaded on ships bound for Spain. This was part of the Marshall Plan,following WWII. A Frisco D7 Cat operator was clearing the right of way sometime before or after the above date and a tree limb fell on him, breaking his arm. This happened near the north switch at Harralson. He is a WWII Vet and still living in the Springfield Brookline, MO area. He may have additional information? Let me know and I will seek him out. The concrete loading dock mentioned was built by Frisco B&B personnel at a later date, I believe? There probably are retired Frisco employees living in and around Springfield that helped with this project?
Joe - thanks for sharing this information with us! First hand information and perspective, like yours, is very valuable to all of us. Whether we're planning a layout and want to accurately model the subject, or if we are fascinated with Frisco history (or both), it's wonderful to read about your experience. As I'm partial to the Clinton Subdivision of the Frisco, it's really great to gain new knowledge about this line. Just glancing at a timetable from this era, there might have only been two trains scheduled in each direction between K.C. and Clinton. However, given the fact that there were some fair-sized shippers, most of us would probably conclude that there were "extras" called for special situations, just as you had mentioned. As I recall, and you probably do to Joe, the horse barn, directly to the west, was very large. Though I imagined long parades of mules being loaded into waiting stock cars, with perhaps, a light 2-8-2, or customary Decapod steam engine, patiently waiting to pull the cars on the "extra", heading north, my envision of such a scene has been made a little clearer. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge Joe, about Harrelson. Bob Lenexa, KS
Seems like in about 1953 there was a large billboard on Hwy 71 just east of Harrelson and south of a road that crossed the RR tracks advertising the Auction or Livestock Dealer. Have you checked Hwy 71 Memorbilia? Also 1/2 mile or so east of Hwy 71 may have been more buildings associated with the mule shipments?
