Wesco, MO depot. Photograph date unknown. Photograph from St. James Library, St. James, MO. Copied by Pat Moreland.
Probably no one else would notice this, but I think it needs to be clarified and I may need someone's help in setting the record straight. The Springfield-Greene County Library website has a section devoted to the Frisco, which I think is fantastic. Many of you have probably seen it, including their list and photographs of depots. But the photo of the depot at Wesco is actually not the Wesco depot at all, nor was the photograph taken in Wesco. Having grown up in Wesco, population 30, it is an easy town to become acquainted with. The real Wesco depot was less than 1/2 half the size of the one shown, and the rear of it sat on large timbers, such as short trestle pilings, to keep it level. Additionally, from the angle that this photo was taken, the Asher Brother's store building with the large false front should be in the background. But you can plainly see a private residence in the library's photograph. And finally, if you look closely at the letters on the end of the depot which do appear to read "WESCO" at first glance, you will notice that some of them are missing or faded. Jack Forbes "Missouri Depots" website has photographs of the real Wesco depot, including one that I submitted. I brought this discrepancy to the attention of the moderators of the library's website a while back. They responded by saying that while they agreed that the depot in their photograph looked nothing like the one on Forbes' website, they would have to decide whether or not to remove the photograph. They suggested the possibility that the depot in their photograph was either newer or older than the one pictured in Missouri Depots. I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is not the case. The depots at Wesco and Cook Station were practically identical in design and size. They never replaced either one before them, nor were they ever replaced with different structures. It has been two or three years, and the library still has this photograph representing the depot at Wesco. I do not gripe about a lot of things, but if my little home town is to be represented on the net, as well as the Frisco itself, I want to be sure that it is done right. Are there any fellow Frisco.org members that have connections with the Springfield-Green County Library that could help me with this? I would be glad to help the library replace it with an accurate photo. Pat Moreland Union, MO
Not sure why they would be reluctant to correct the mistake. Should be a "no brainer". I will have some of my boys from the cartel visit them. I will fire them a note and see if it helps.
A few years ago I read this passage on their Frisco homepage. "The Meteor Diesel (Frisco E-7/E-8) passenger locomotives were named for famous racehorses. Beginning in 1950 these locomotives were named after Kentucky Derby winners between 1925 and 1940; these are sometimes referred to as the "Racehorses". Some of these units were: Fair Play, Jet Pilot, Flying Ebony, Sea Biscuit, Citation, and Big Red." I realized that not all of the Frisco's passenger diesels were named after Kentucky Derby winners. Nor were they all named after race horses. Some exceptions were Gene Autry's horse "Champion", and "Comanche", the only survivor of the battle of Little Big Horn, as well as others. I sent the library a polite email pointing this out, citing Joe Collias's Frisco Power as a reference. I received a reply stating that I was wrong and that they were standing by what was written on the website. You would think that a library would be more interested in presenting accurate information! Rich
Thanks for the information, fellows. It is understandable that sometimes, information is mistakenly received or posted that is not correct. However, when reputable people with equally reputable sources try to correct those mistakes and are scoffed at, well, someone is either being unreasonably stubborn or just plain lazy. I believe that Marre's book Frisco in Color also states that not all of the E7As (EA7) and E8As were named for racehorses, let alone Kentucky Derby winners. Thanks Sherrel. See if your "boys" can persuade them to be a little more thorough with their research, as well as receptive when an error is discovered.
Found this picture posted that is dated 1956. http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?attachments/frisco-depot-wesco-mo-1956-jpg.2520/
From Richard Crabtree on Frisco Rails Across Missouri. Here we are at the Frisco depot in Wesco, Missouri on the Salem Branch of the Frisco via Cuba, MO. Wesco was first named Wilson's Mills, after James Wilson, the proprietor of a local mill. A post office called Wilsons Mills was established in 1877, and the name was changed to Wesco in 1907. Photo 1) The Frisco depot and the town of Wesco, Missouri aka "Wilson' Mills" in 1903. Photo 2) We see the Frisco depot Wesco, Missouri in the background in the 1920s. Photograph was taken on the steps of Wesco General Store. Standing left to right are Fern Housewright, Ava Earney, Warren Perkins, Evelyn Beezley and 3 boys unknown. Photograph courtesy of Phyliss Perkins. Photo 3) Frisco depot in Wesco, Missouri in the 1920s with the blacksmith shop, Asher Brother's store and Post Office in the background. Photo 4) Crawford County Plat map showing Wesco / Wilson's Mill, MO. Click here for current view. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wesco,+MO+65449/@37.8593422,-91.4347971,373a,35y,90h,39.34t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87da31399733e0bd:0x5dbea8fba141d90d!8m2!3d37.8594882!4d-91.4320918
Wesco, MO depot. A history of the depot can be read on pdf CRAS001-R.pdf. https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/survey/CRAS001-R.pdf Computer screen pages 25 and 26 of 45, read pdf document pages 20 and 21, wpmoreland719 's picture of Wesco Depot in 1903 is shown above. It was on Santa Fe Street. Help solve the 1903 mystery of Santa Fe Street.
