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North Jefferson |
North Jefferson
In 1871, David Kennedy effected a name change of a village across the Missouri River from Jefferson City, from Hibernia to Cedar City as a result of the coming of the Chicago and Alton Railroad. The rail line was a spur line from the North Missouri Railroad, originating at Mexico, Missouri, passing through Fulton and creating numerous small communities along its' path.
Cedar City was the terminus of that spur line and business was such that two trains daily were required to accommodate the commerce and passenger service on the line. Each morning one would originate at Mexico in the morning and the other at Cedar City. They would complete the transit in the morning and then both would make the trip to their respective starting points in the afternoon.
Shortly following the construction of a depot at Cedar City a partial roundhouse was built to be able turn the engine around for the return trip. It required the muscle power of the residents to effect the turn. When the whistle blew a certain signal, available residents of town would appear to provide the muscle power for the turn. The C&A rail company enjoyed a rather prospering business of commercial items and passenger service from the north to Cedar City which served the capitol city. Jefferson City businesses prospered transferring people and items from the ferry landing to locations in the city.
See article on drayage for time before trolleys.
That stable, profitable business changed rapidly in the years 1895 and 1896 with the completion of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad passing north of Cedar City in 1895 and then the completion of the bridge crossing the Missouri River at Jefferson City in 1896. With the combination of the new bridge and railroad commerce through Cedar City, mostly to Jefferson City, increased immensely.
To handle the loading and unload of shipments and passengers it was necessary to create a new rail stop on the MK&T line approximately one mile north of Cedar City. The rail stop was located in SW SE SE Section 04 Township 44N Range 11W, on the lands of J. and M.L. Irvine and it was named North Jefferson. There is little known about the original North Jefferson; but the 1897 Historic Atlas map definitely shows a depot at that location and it is presumed that there were also facilities for fuel and water. That map also shows a spur line from the MK&T line near the intersection of the two rail lines to a point on the old river road, just northeast of the north end of the bridge. There is no known reason for this spur line, other than possibly the delivery of bulk items like coal.
Shortly thereafter, the C&A rail line was extended through Cedar City and turned to the east where it terminated at a location at the north end of the bridge on the west side. This proved to be a nucleus for business with commercial interests to grow around this location. A depot was built and the area eventually acquired the name, South Cedar.
View Chicago & Alton Railroad Video
In 1910, the bridge, through Jefferson City Bridge and Transit Company, was sold to other interests called the Kestler Group and many new promises to the residents were a result of that sale. This included a trolley throughout the uptown district of Jefferson City with that system being extended across the bridge to a new location which would provide service to both rail lines. This depot was again named North Jefferson and was located at the intersection of the two rail lines approximately one half mile east of the original location. That very same year the trolley was extended across the bridge to the new location.
In 1910, the bridge, through Jefferson City Bridge and Transit Company, was sold to other interests called the Kestler Group and many new promises to the residents were a result of that sale. This included trolley throughout the uptown district of Jefferson City with that system being extended across the bridge to a new location which would provide service to both rail lines. This depot was again named North Jefferson and was located at the intersection of the two rail lines approximately one half mile east of the original location. That very same year the trolley was extended across the bridge to the new location.
Another benefit which was to occur was announced in the "Electric Railway Journal", Nov. 29, 1913, page 1162, where the Public Service Commission had approved plans to extend the existing electric rail line across the bridge to Columbia and Mexico. These plans were made prior to the purchase of the bridge in 1910. The plans to construct this rail line were contingent upon financial arrangements between the rail company and the various cities involved in the rail extension. The proposition of the North Missouri Central Electric Railroad Company was that it would build that rail line provided a $200,000.00 bonus to be raised along the right of way. Apparently, those financial commitments were not met and the deal fell apart. That left only the electric rail line across the bridge to North Jefferson, in addition to those within Jefferson City.
1876 - Callaway County Historic Atlas - Twn44N Rng11W
1897 - Callaway County Historic Atlas - Twn44N Rng11W
1919 - Callaway County Historic Atlas - Twn44N Rng11W
