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A Publication of the Barry County Museum Treasuring the Past ◊ Embracing the Present ◊ Envisioning the Future

Plymouth Engine New Addition to the Barry County Museum With the assistance of the Corky Stehlik family, the Barry County Museum was able to acquire a 25ton Plymouth diesel engine similar to the 50-ton Plymouth diesel used on the Cassville and Exeter Railroad that ran from Exeter to Cassville until September 11, 1956. The original 50-ton engine has been lost over the years, but we are thankful to have a smaller example to carry on the history of the once famous C & E Railroad.

25-ton Plymouth Detroit Diesel being transported to the Barry County Museum by Richards Construction from Kansas City

Ozarks Crane out of Joplin doing the heavy lifting.

Corky Stehlik inspecting the new addition to the Barry County Museum recently placed on his freshly laid track

Did You Know? At 4.8 miles, the C&E Railroad was declared the World’s Shortest Standard Gauge Railroad by Robert Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" in 1931.

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In Elberta Peaches from Cassville shipping out on the C&E Railroad in 1911 The C&E Railroad was also known as the “Fruitbelt Line”

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C&E Railroad car with painted sign “Fruit Grown by Hanley, Sanders, Horine & Moore” Old No. 20.was the first engine used on the C & E after Dingler bought the line in 1919

From 1907 Kansas Newspaper

The actual length of the track when completed in July, 1896, was five miles and four hundred feet. One spur ran to the Cassville Roller Mill and another along the alley between the original town and the Bayless addition. Its rolling stock consisted of two engines, a boxcar, passenger coach, and a combination baggage and passenger coach. A roundhouse and a depot, described in 1896 as "commodious and tasty" were constructed in Cassville. The depot was later to also house the telephone company.

the latter part of January 1896, J . M. Bayless called a meeting of six or eight citizens of Cassville to consult about the advisability of soliciting subscriptions for the building of a railroad line to connect to the Frisco. C.D. Manley, Charles Ray and W.L. Martin were appointed to a soliciting committee. In a short time the necessary funds were contributed, the surveys made, right-of-ways secured and the work began. Laying of the rails began June 11, 1896 at Exeter and were laid into Cassville on June 20th, and Cassville had a railroad. The name of the little short line which was to be the connecting link, was The Cassville and We s t e r n Railroad.

C&E Railroad engine 345 next to depot at Exeter in 1942 (Fields’ #12527) Prints of this photo can be ordered from the Fields’ Photo Archives

The bankrupt short line was purchased by two Cassville businessmen, Dave Dingler and James C. Ault, in 1919. The new owners announced that the little railroad had a new name, and would henceforth be known as The Cassville and Exeter Railroad, or the C & E. Dave Dingler was the railroad's president and was also the full-fledged, fulltime locomotive engineer. Under his guidance, the little line was soon showing not only a healthy profit, but receiving publicity in newspapers from coast to coast. Every summer tourists visited the C & E in large numbers, and the ride over to Exeter and back in the shining passenger car was also a "must" for local folks on an outing.

The new railroad company was incorporated under the state laws on March 14, 1896 with the following stockholders: J.M. Bayless, Mrs. M.A. Bayless, Dr. D.L. Mitchell, Cassville; T.A. Miller, Aurora; J.R. Rincker, Bowling Green, Missouri; and E.R. Clark, Topeka, Kansas. J.M. Bayless was president and general manager. Its capital stock was $50,000. For several years the railroad was the only entry into Cassville other than roads that were impassable during bad weather. Both passengers and shippers depended upon it for transportation from the Frisco line at Exeter into Cassville. John M. Bayless Family

Engine 2644 parked next to depot in Cassville with Main Street in the background

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Plymouth Engine next to the Cassville Depot in 1954 (Fields’ #23767) Prints of this photo can be ordered from the Fields’ Photo Archives

From 1936 California Newspaper

Finally, on September 11, 1956, the locomotive made the last run over the 4.8 mile long track from Cassville to Exeter to return an empty boxcar to the Frisco Line at Exeter. The C & E had served the Cassville community faithfully for 60 years. For much of that time, in the early years of Cassville's growth, it was the only link to the outside world of commerce. Who can say what the history of Cassville might have been had not the world's shortest standard gauge railroad been built.

The little railroad continued to be highly publicized and became Cassville's "claim to glory." In 1931 it was featured in Robert Ripley's "Believe It Or Not." In 1937 pictures and a story about the short-line and its colorful president appeared in Newsweek magazine. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch carried a story in 1927 entitled, "President of Railroad Also Its Only Engineer." The New York Times on December 12, 1926, featured Dingler and the railroad in its Rotogravure Picture section. The July issue of the transportation industry's monthly magazine Transportation in 1928 featured the "Family Railroad in Missouri." The Springfield Press in May, 1930 carried the story "Railroad President Pilots Engine Over Shortest Line in America." The St. Louis Globe-Democrat in February 1939 carried an Associated Press story called, "Cassville's Unique Freight Train Runs Uphill and Coasts Back." The Railroad Man's Magazine in November, 1930, featured "Our Shortest Railroad," the story of the C & E, and there were many, many more. The C & E was famous and the publicity had made Dave Dingler a world figure in the railroad business.

—Excerpt taken from Keepsake Stories of the Ozarks by Irene Horner, available for purchase in the museum book store.

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From 1940 Oklahoma Newspaper

Plymouth Engine powering the C&E in 1955 (Fields’ #25300) Prints of this photo can be ordered from the Fields’ Photo Archives

Barry County Museum Director Kathy White with Gene and

Visitors to Barry County Museum, Gene and Noqah while resting at the museum Noqah, are traveling the Trail of Tears by mule and wagon to honor their Native American heritage. They’ve been traveling since April 8th, 2014, their destination point being Tahlequah. They arrived Friday, July 26 and camped on museum grounds until Monday morning before heading back out on the road. C ASSVILLE 4 TH G RADE C LASS

F IELD T RIP TO THE B ARRY C OUNTY M USEUM

Sargent Jason Pace with the Missouri Highway Patrol informs students on how to keep safe this summer

J.D. Reed and Steve Burcham from Ozark Home Garden teach ideal soil condition.

Museum Volunteer Fran Bolton gives lesson on rural schools in the Black School House

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R ECENTLY D ONATED

Kremo Dairy Ice Cream containers donated by Steve Reid

K

remo Dairy located at 108 E. 5th St. “on the Y” in Cassville was owned by and operated by School Superintendent M.M. Hess. Dr. George Newman thought the area needed a pasteurized milk plant and convinced Professor Hess to purchase one he had obtained in Iowa in 1945. The Hesses named the business Kremo Dairy. The dairy was in operation for the next five years. Professor Hess frequently mentioned in speeches that, “All I have I owe to udders.” Family Record for the Andrew J. Henderson Family Donated by the Haggard Family

T

he history of the Henderson Family, like many other Barry County families, dates back to early days of the county. John Henderson and wife Polly Thomas Henderson were parents of three sons: Pleasant P., Andrew J., and Francis Marion; the latter two were twins. After the death of John Henderson, Polly Thomas Henderson and sons came with her brother, James Thomas, to Missouri and settled near Forsythe, then later moved to Barry County, settling on a farm near what is now Monett. Andrew Jackson Henderson (b. 11 Jul 1831 d.5 Aug 1902) married Nancy Hedgepeth (b. 10 Nov 1837 d. 9 Dec 1893) in Christian County on September 17th, 1854. Their children as listed on this hand-drawn Family Record include: Edmon P. Henderson b. 3 Oct 1855 m. 1 Jan 1881 d. 1933 William M. Henderson b. 29 Dec 1856 d. 7 Mar 1878 Robert J. Henderson b. 22 Sep 1858 m. 23 Mar 1880 d. 29 Dec 1938 John T. Henderson b. 12 Feb 1860 d. 18 Apr 1879 General S. Henderson b. 12 Jan 1862 m. 7 Sep 1884 d. 26 Nov 1942* Manurva A. Henderson b. 24 Nov 1863 m. 7 Sep 1884 d. 20 Nov 1934 Mary E. Henderson b. 18 Jan 1866 m. 3 Oct 1886 d. 28 Nov 1945 Elmina Henderson b. 12 Oct 1867 m. 5 Jun 1887 d. 7 Nov 1943 Savinna R. Henderson b. 31 May 1869 d. 9 Jan 1879 Thomas J. Henderson b. 22 Feb 1871 d. 16 Sep 1876 Malissa J. Henderson b. 25 Aug 1873 m. 18 Dec 1892 d. 15 Jul 1961 Benjamin F. Henderson b. 7 Aug 1874 d. 20 Jun 1950 Rozetia Henderson b. 9 Apr 1878 d. 27 Aug 1963

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*Seigel Henderson, named for the Civil War General, was the maternal grandfather of Mamie (McCormick) Lane. Mrs. Lane was featured in Volume 8 of Lifetimes of Memories, available for purchase in the Barry County Museum gift shop.

WWI Belgium Helmet donated by Tim Frisinger. Mr. Frisinger is a veteran, Civil War buff, and frequent contributor to the Barry County Museum. Photo of Pioneer Spring donated by Robert Ryder. Some may remember Mr. Ryder from Volume 9 of the Lifetimes of Memories oral history series published by the Barry County Museum.

Thank you to all the Barry County Museum patrons who aid us in preserving our Ozarks history! Mounted Turkey donated by Guy Brown. Mr. Brown has been a guest speaker on turkey hunting to Cassville Elementary classes at the Barry County Museum.

1925 Photo of Wayne School donated by the Bates Family. The Bates family also donated photos of the 1922 and 1927 classes at Wayne. Wayne is located between Exeter and Washburn, and was a junction for the North Arkansas Railroad. The Wayne depot served both the Frisco and Arkansas & Missouri (M&A) railroads. In 1953 Wayne School joined with the Exeter Consolidated School.

Group photo of the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 1713 at Roaring River near Cassville dated October 18, 1933 donated by Ken Hinds.

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Also check out our Facebook page! Phone: 417-847-1640 Fax: 417-847-1641 E-mail: [email protected]

Collecting, preserving and exhibiting items that illustrate the past, present and future of Barry County. Fields’ Photo Archives— a collection of more than one million negatives available for public viewing and researching. Oral History Project—capturing the stories of long-time county residents to create a collective memory of Barry County life. Display space for community art exhibits, collections, and various displays. Community Room—available to reserve for special occasions, business or other meetings.

Fortunately, the Barry County Museum was spared any major damage during the recent flooding in the Cassville Area.

However, residents of the museum pond were inconvenienced by recent downpours. High water from Horner Branch of Flat Creek overflowed the pond at the Barry County Museum, making the parking lot inaccessible.

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