I am the Pastor of Harold Baptist Church. I have been here 28 years and do not know why it got its name. Why was Harold named Harold? And when was the first use of this as a depot? Was there a town on this location? If anyone knows I would really like the information.
James, I am not really familiar with the area but www.topozone.com still shows Harold along MO Highway 123 and adjacent to the old SL-SF right-of-way. It is just conjecture, but I know a lot of small towns and sidings all through the Frisco system were often named after railroad officials. "Brand", MP 115.4, on the River Division, Chaffee Subdivision is named after Karl Brand's grandfather who was a Frisco official in his day. Karl, Please clarify if I have the wrong relation.
My best guess is that Harold, MO was named after J. E. Harrold. Two r’s or one r depending upon which parcel of land that is described in the plat book. He was a land owner in the area at the end of the 19th century. I do n0t know what his claim to fame is, but perhaps he was the first merchant or postmaster in the community. The Springfield Library digital Frisco collection has an image that purports to be of the depot at Harold. http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/depots/greene.cfm I am skeptical for the following reasons: a) Many of the photographs listed in the collection have errant descriptions. b) The Eastern Division Station Diagram book lists no structures for Harold. c) The 1904 Greene County Plat Book shows no depot. d) The Post Office was closed in 1905 due to Rural Free Delivery (RFD) from Walnut Grove, MO. e) The community had a population of 29 at that time, and it is doubtful that a depot would be needed. Harold remained a flag stop for trains No 20 and No 21 until the end of passenger service on the Highline in May 1954. The 14 car-length siding that was present in 1937, was gone by 1947. Perhaps the need for scrap steel during the war was the reason that the track was retired. I can offer no insight with regard to the structure that FM’s image depicts. It no doubt served as a shelter for the very few passengers that boarded or disembarked from Frisco passenger trains at Harold. Chris, You are correct, my grandfather, E. L. Brand, was the Division Engineer on the River Division during the very late 1920s and early 1930s. The passing track at MP T-114.9 was named after him.
Talked with my great Aunt that lives at Harold. It was a flag stop. The building there was built just to keep people out of the weather. She called it an outhouse and laughed. Also according to a land plat map given to us from a lady at the church, Mr. J. E. Harold owned land at this place. We are getting somewhere and I appreciate the help. Thanks everyone, James
