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Episode 3: Experiences of Harold Rhoads, Buddy Bryant and Howard Smith

by | Aug 28, 2021

Rock Island in Arkansas
Rock Island in Arkansas
Episode 3: Experiences of Harold Rhoads, Buddy Bryant and Howard Smith
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This episode features the experiences of three longtime Rock Island engineers: Harold Rhoads, Buddy Bryant and Howard Smith. They started as firemen in the years after World War II, with two of the three working with steam locomotives before they were completely phased out. They worked throughout Arkansas and into Memphis, Tennessee and shared their most memorable stories, as well as the frustrations of working for the railroad during a period of rapid decline before being shut down in 1980.

The three sat down together to swap stories in Little Rock on April 16, 2003, with the discussion being recorded by Tom Sandlin. For about a decade, Sandlin traveled throughout the country recording hundreds of in-depth interviews with former Rock Island employees. In December 2020, he gave me a couple hundred cassette tapes of those interviews, which I’ve been working to digitize. In addition to including highlights of those in my podcast series, I’m also posting the full interviews on my website hibblenradio.com. Sandlin is to be commended for not only documenting these experiences, but realizing the value of oral histories at a time when many Rock Island employees where dying. Sadly, Rhoads, Bryant and Smith have since died, but their stories live on, thanks to Tom Sandlin.

I also include an update on the project to preserve the Rock Island Depot in Perry, Arkansas, which was the focus of my previous episode. Since that program was produced, the depot has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While a lot has been accomplished, there’s still much to do in the restoration of the wooden one-story depot which was a key point on this stretch of the Rock Island’s main line between Memphis and Tucumcari, New Mexico. I spoke with Buford Suffridge, president of the Perry Country Historical & Genealogical Society, about what’s being planned next.

 

Episode 2: Preserving the Rock Island Depot in Perry, Arkansas

by | Nov 27, 2020

Rock Island in Arkansas
Rock Island in Arkansas
Episode 2: Preserving the Rock Island Depot in Perry, Arkansas
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Since getting involved in a project three years ago to preserve the Rock Island depot in Perry, Arkansas, I’ve been recording interviews with former employees of the railroad and others who have had connections to the building. The depot, which we believe was built in 1918,  was slated to be torn down in 2017. But, thanks to the efforts of the Perry County Historical and Genealogical Society, Preserve Arkansas, and the financial support of many donors and a grant from the state, it is being preserved. The wooden building, which is in surprisingly good condition, has been moved to an adjacent lot, placed on a newly-constructed foundation, and the roof has been replaced.

A westbound passenger train approaches the Perry depot in 1960. This photo was taken from the cab of a Budd Rail Diesel Car by Rock Island company photographer Ed Wojtas.

This podcast, which is the second episode in a series I’ve been slowly producing, tells the history of the Perry depot through first-hand accounts. I feature memories from Buford Suffridge, who has been leading the restoration effort, and Danny Majors, the son of longtime Depot Agent Joe Majors. I also include former Rock Island employees John Henderson, Bill Anderson and Mike Childers. It’s an effort to preserve the stories of those who remember when this was part of a major rail link. Millions of people probably rode over this spot when it was part of the Rock Island’s sunbelt line linking Memphis, Tennessee and Amarillo, Texas.

The plan is for the depot to eventually serve as a community meeting place and museum, telling the story of the community and the Rock Island. But there is still a lot more work to do before that can become a reality.

A lot of the stories featured in this podcast focus on Joe Majors and what it’s like being a depot agent in a small town alongside a major rail line. I hope the image here, which was shared by his son Danny, will someday be featured on a large display inside the depot.

Longtime Perry Depot Agent Joe Majors with his pipe and pocket watch poses for a photo outside the station. He worked here from about 1950 until the Rock Island was shut down in 1980. Photo courtesy of his son Danny Majors.

You can read more about the project to preserve the depot as it has progressed here. I’ll also have an important update soon as the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is to consider nominating the Perry depot to the National Register of Historic Places at a meeting on Dec. 2, 2020.

This episode was produced with the assistance Dr. J. Bradly Minnick, features the music of central Arkansas musicians Jim Mize, Fret & Worry and a classic recording of the song “Rock Island Line” by Leadbelly.

Episode 1: Reunions of Former Employees, Career of L.T. Walker

by | Nov 6, 2020

Rock Island in Arkansas
Rock Island in Arkansas
Episode 1: Reunions of Former Employees, Career of L.T. Walker
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For a few years I’ve been working on my podcast series “Rock Island In Arkansas,” though I’ve actually been recording interviews with former employees of the railroad for decades. The series focuses on the history of the Rock Island in the state, its operations, and features the first-hand experiences of those who worked for the railroad.

The first episode looks at the regular gatherings of former employees which continue 38 years after the Rock Island was shut down in 1980. In 2016 and 2017 I attended the annual picnics held in Sherwood, Arkansas, setting up a table to record as many stories as possible.

I also feature much of a 1988 interview I recorded with former conductor and brakeman L.T. Walker, who also served as local chairman of an employee union. He helped form the Rock Island Club in Arkansas after the railroad was no more.

I hope to produce a new episode of the podcast periodically and envision having a total of about 15 episodes. This first episode is only available here, but with the second episode, you should be able to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.