Mount Vernon, MO, Ash Grove Sub, Aurora Branch, MP 186.4, Springfield Sub, Mt. Vernon Branch, 280.6

Mount Vernon, MO depot.

Sanborn Map and old photograph.

 

The original depot burned 10/4/1932.

It was replaced by the depot from Pennsboro, MO.

 

Richard’s post illuminates a puzzle.

The Greenfield and Northern (G&N) Railroad built the Mount Vernon depot when it reach that city during the spring of 1890.

During October 4, 1932, the depot burned. A nearby, abandoned grain elevator was set afire by transients, and the blaze spread to the depot.



The Frisco’s B&B folks determined that the Pennsboro, MO depot, B298, MP B169.4, would make a suitable replacement for the Mount Vernon structure.

On April 1, 1925, the Frisco closed the “ticket-only” agency at Pennsboro. Pending the move, which occurred during News Years Day 1933, the section gangs were busy increasing the clearances so that Pennsboro depot could pass during its 17.0 mile trip.

Cattle guards, ROW signs, crossbucks, switch stands, and the like were set back or modified.

I am really curious about how the crews got the depot through Miller.



The Springfield-Greene County Digital Frisco Collection has an Art Johnson image of what purports to be the Mount Vernon, nee Pennsboro, depot.

The structure lacks a station name, and the turnout in the foreground does not seem to fit Mount Vernon.

It is interesting that the banner-style order board is outside the waiting room and not outside the depot’s office bay window.

Also note the multi-light, upper window sashes as described in the B&B drawing. These were also described in a Kansas City Star article, and contained colored glass.

The Frisco discontinued Aurora Branch passenger trains June 20, 1926, after which remained a scheduled "accommodation train", which handled the remaining freight and express. The need to serve passenger traffic was nearly nill.

All things considered, the Library’s photograph is most likely the former Pennsboro depot at Mount Vernon.





On March 23, 1933, the Frisco removed scheduled service, and the needs of Miller and Mount Vernon were handled from Aurora. The Ash Grove local served Greenfield, and Pennsboro express, if any was handled by truck.

On November 16, 1933, the Frisco announced that it would seek to abandon nearly 208 miles of track, which included the Aurora Branch between South Greenfield and Miller.

The puzzle comes when one examines Leader and Press’s aerial photograph. Richard’s date for the aerial photograph is incorrect. This picture appeared in the August 14, 1949 edition of the Springfield Leader and Press.

In this image, what appears to be a new, modern structure has appeared. This E-bay capture matches the structure, which is seen in the aerial photograph.

Given the volume of business seen in the aerial photograph, did the Frisco see the need to build a new structure at Mount Vernon?

Or at the heart of the new structure does the old Pennsboro depot lie?

I have looked through numerous sources in order to determine the particulars about the new depot, but I have not been able to find anything. Mount Vernon was a busy place during 1949.