Last Iron Horse Leaves Town In June 1955
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
Long a familiar sight in Water Valley, the locomotive above was the last to be regularly scheduled to operate in and out of Water Valley. The Illinois Central Railroad was replacing the steam locomotives with diesel locomotives. The bottom photo shows the locomotive as it was being towed out of Water Valley on Wednesday, June 1, 1955 by one of the diesels. Frank Roberts rode the steam locomotive as messenger, while the diesel was operated by Golie Mize.
10 Years Ago, June 11, 2015 – Jerry Wayne Hill, Edwin Earl Hill and Thomas Franklin Hill accepted the Silver Star posthumously awarded to their brother, Alfred Bennett Hill, Jr. during a ceremony held in Sen. Thad Cochran’s field office in the Federal Building in Oxford. Alfred Hill, affectionately remembered by his family as Junior, was killed in action near Malaybalay, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, on June 1, 1945, while bravely trying to reach a wounded soldier to administer medical care. He was 25 at the time of his death. His captain had recommended the Silver Star for the heroic effort, recognition that took more than seven decades.
• 20 Years Ago, June 16, 2005 – Steffi Alane River was selected Miss Casey Jones for 2005-2006. Her duties would include acting as hostess for the Water Valley Casey Jones Museum during the Watermelon Carnival and other events.
Barry Caulfield was pictured on the front pages in Iraq, where he was distributing soccer balls to Iraqi children. The balls were donated by the Town and Country Garden Club.
• 30 Years Ago, June 15, 1995 – New members of the Junior Auxiliary of Water Valley are Amy McMinn, Melinda Grimmett and Melissa Burrell.
Volunteers were packing pills in preparation for the Nicaraguan mission trip scheduled in August. Binnie Turnage headed the team, which until this year had gone to Honduras. It was determined that the need is even greater in Nicaragua. Shown packing the pills on the front page of the Herald were Wanda Norris, Dr. Barry Weeks, Ray Cox, Sarah Pullen, Bill Norris and Lynn Morris.
Rosa Margaret Hill, Pamela Casey McCoy and Steven R. Vaughn, all of Water Valley, and Regina Lynn Turnage of Coffeeville were listed as President’s Scholars for the 1995 spring semester at Mississippi State University.
• 40 Years Ago, June 13, 1985 – Mayor Hamric Henry cut the ribbon to officially open Mid-town Auto Parts on Thursday, June 6. Mayor Henry commented that the city is very pleased to have this new business on Main Street, “north of the hump.” Pictured with Mayor Henry were Craig Hart, J.P. Hart, Jack Sartain, Sam Higdon, Larry Hart, Rev. Guy Reedy and Scott Welch.
A drawing was held to determine the winner of the Oakland Mayor’s race after vote tally was tied between incumbent Mayor Franklin D. Jones and Riley Swearengen. The unofficial count of votes after the polls closed showed Mayor Jones trailing Swearengen by two votes. Wednesday morning’s recount gave Mayor Jones a one-vote lead. The votes were again counted Wednesday afternoon and the two were tied. The names were then placed in a box and a drawing was held. Mr. Swearengen’s name was drawn and he was declared the winner of the race.
Five Yalobusha County members of the Mississippi State Highway Department were recognized during Service Award ceremonies. Receiving pins and certificates were: E.E. House and Roy C. Patton, 25 years; Moyle H. “Butch” Surrette, 20 years; Jewel W. “Jack” Hughes, Jr., and Calvin E. Clark, 10 years; and Billy W. Hamilton, five years.
• 50 Years Ago, June 12, 1975 – The Tri-Lake Coon Hunter association has been formed in Yalobusha County. Meeting once a month at the Pine Valley School House, the Association elected the following officers: President, Larry Wrenn; vice-president, Bo Gooch; secretary and treasurer, Dale Camp. Master of Hounds is Alvin Ross and serving on the Board of Directors are: Larry Carr, Frank Snider, Micky Greer, Guy B. Perkins and Dale Camp.
The North Mississippi Herald was authorized to announce the candidacy of Cliff Finch of Batesville for Governor.
• 70 Years Ago, June 16, 1955 – Water Valley’s second oldest business was beginning a new year. With this edition, the North Mississippi Herald was beginning its 68th year of publication.
A special matinee held at the Valley Theatre on Wednesday morning for “Grandmothers” was well attended with 32 grandmothers present. Coffee and doughnuts were served to everyone.
Four 4-H Club members from Yalobusha County were named delegates to the Statewide 4-H Junior Leadership Training at State College.
Julia Fite, Margaret Spivey, Pitt Person of Water Valley and Phillip Pittman of Coffeeville were selected as delegates to the 1955 4-H Junior Leadership conference.
• 80 Years Ago, June 14, 1945 – Twenty Boy Scouts of Water Valley were attending the Boy Scout camp at Camp Yocona. The group included D.C. Morgan, Jack Dunning, Bill Lee, Johnny Powell, James Larson, Charles Jenkins, Charles Holloway, Henry Baggett, Duman French, Dan McKenzie, Curtis Berry, Bobby Tyler, Billy Greer, Ralph Mitchell, Charles Cook, Charlie Bell, Dean Neal and David Fly.
One farm in Yalobusha County of five examined was found to be infested with boll weevils, according to a report from the Mississippi State Plant Board on cotton insects.
• 90 Years Ago, June 13, 1935 – Illinois Central System payrolls, taxes, purchases and other expenditures added $314,853 to the income of Yalobusha County and its citizens in 1934, making the railroad the largest taxpayer in the county, according to a front page story in the Herald. The bulk of this was the payroll, with the railroad’s total payroll in 1934 listed at $235,765. An average of 156 persons were employed in the county.
President “Shine” Tyson of the Water Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce announced the date for the 1935 Water Valley Melon Carnival as Thursday, August 8. Pres. Tyson selected a committee for the selection of “Melon Queen,” and other committees for advance work on the carnival program.
An all day singing was planned at Jumper’s Chapel on June 16. All singers were invited to come and bring their books. Listeners were urged to bring well-filled lunch baskets.
Listed as candidates for sheriff were Frank L. Hyde, W.C. Vaughn, W.W. Frost, C.B. Busby, A.K. Burt and Hugh Johnson.
For County Supt. of Education, candidates listed included Jas W. Frost, H.T. Smith, J.P. Jenkins, I.J. Marrs and Jesse L. Weeks.
