Steam piledrivers set foundation for a trestle at Reese, Texas as Texas & New Orleans Railroad pushes towards Jacksonville in 1902.
International & Great Northern (Missouri Pacific) depot which served Jacksonville during the hey-day of railroads here was one shown above. It was eventually torn down to make way for a new modern brick station.....which was also razed on March 1985.
Texas & New Orleans (Southern Pacific) Railroad's Jacksonville operations was extensive, this being the midway point between Dallas and Beaumont, with roundhouse, yards and other facilities located here. Shown above is one of the familiar "800" class locomotives and a group of traffic and transportation officials who met here on May 28, 1924, to discuss the peach and tomato movement.
Scene in the Texas & New Orleans railroad yards shows a Jacksonville landmark in the center rear, being the old "Sour Rag" Cafe. Jacksonville was a stop-over between Dallas and Beaumont and railroad passengers had meals at this cafe. Railroader, who also ate there, referred to it as the "beanery."
During the "pink" deal, farmers packed their own tomatoes in crates at the farm and brought them to be loaded, as shown. The "pink" deal ended about 1906, when the "green wrap" deal began to develop.
First shipment of tomatoes from Jacksonville, Texas, in 1906 to Pittsburgh, PA.
Material Sources
Jacksonville Public Libary
Jacksonville, Texas Centennial Historical Book 1872-1972
Cherokee County History Book
Photos from Nichols Studios
