FRISCO/M&NA/track side trivia... I was just doing some daydreaming er... "remembering" about modeling Seligman MO, when I remembered my grandparents telling me about what the locals referred to as "Bum Hollow". It seems that bum hollow was located just past the north end of the rail yard at Seligman, where the FRISCO rails turn west. Apparently, hobos camped here waiting to hop trains, for day labor jobs or whatever. Do any crew members serving the Ft Smith sub (or anywhere else for that matter) have any stories to share along these lines? Thanks in advance. Craig (Moderators feel free to move this if its not in the right place.)
The Newburg hobo camp was on the east end of the yard. I remember as a child being visited by hobos looking for work even in Dixon. Doug
My great Uncle ran the Depot in Portageville mo. One night with the tempeture hanging around 0 degree a Black man came by the front door asking for a handout. He had a light jacket and no shoes. My Uncle noticed the mans feet were turning purple. He knew the mans feet had frostbite. That night he rubbed the Hobo's feet for hours while my aunt fed him soup. The next morning the man was gone before daylight and never seen again. A story i will never forget.
Thanks for sharing. My grandparents told me stories of hobos coming to the house on occasion to ask for food. Most were grateful for what they could share. Some offered to do chores. Only one griped about the food offered and turned it down, however, he was offered the same fare that they were eating. Times were tough. Craig
Wow, does this jog the memories or what. I can remember my relatives telling me to stay away from "bum's park". Of course it being the late 60's early 70's there were not many hobos hanging out in Chaffee. I was the adventurous type and went anyway but only ever saw one hobo. This area was located south of Heeb creek and west of the Frisco tracks. Today the city owns it and it is quite a decent park with several baseball/softball diamonds, fishing pond, restrooms and other great facilities as well as being right along the ROW of the BNSF. Great place to take pics and stay off of RR property! The name has change though. It is no longer called Bum's Park but of all things......Frisco Park! Tim
I helped move the caboose into the park. I hated to do it because I new it would never be taken care of or protected. Still have some pictures somewhere. RHT
I e-mailed my brother in Lake St. Louis to confirm what I thought I remembered: in the early 90s when he worked at Showtime Video in Chaffee, a modern-day "hobo" came in, saying he'd just gotten off a train and was looking for some food. OT, but I miss when German Days were held on the levelled off site of the old division office building. I much preferred munching on a cheeseburger and watching the BN trains change crews than spending my money on games!
