The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-03-28
THE OLD
FREIGHT HOUSE
The Conditions at the Lacka-
wanna Station When It
Was Built.
LANDMARK FAST DISAPPEARING

The destruction or the Olu 1Telgnb.
house removes about the last remain
ing vestige Of what may be called the
second period Of railroad history in
Morristown, the period from the time
the Morris & Essex was extended UNI
til the coming of the modern road,
OF the first period when the road ter
minated at the corner of Maple avenue
and DeHart street, all that remains is
portion of the old embankment
across the present Field Club.grounds.
When the road was extended it be-
came necessary to relocate the line
which was changed from near
Sneeden's Crossing. The freig h t
house lust torn down was erected about
l847 on the other side of the track,
from where it last stood, about where
the present express Office is located,
while the old wooden passenger sta
tion now owned by Andrew Riley and
standing at lot Morris street, was lo-
Gated very near the junction of the
railroad tracks with Morris street.
Across the tracks near where the
crane stands was the old round house,
"a wooden building brick lined and ae-
,commodating four engines and back
of the turntable. Above the Saw Mill
lane crossing on the far side OF the
tracks, stood another large wooden
building known as the rag house and
used by Mr.. Coghlan, who then con-
Quoted the Whippany paper mills.
Just before its destruction about 1887
it was used as stable by the express
company. A little west of the present
station on the Morris street side, was
the coal shed and water tank also torn
down in 1887, or thereab0uts
About the time of the war, business
was so heavy in the freight depart
ment that twelve men were employed
The drilling of cars was done by hand
and was laborious process. A bright
thought struck some one and most Of
the men were discharged and a mule
put on duty instead. This scheme
failed to work and soon after one Of
the locomotives was detailed to shift
the cars.
It was in 1865 that the gauge was
changed from about four feet ten in
ches to the present standard guage.
Before the war, and again after, the
late Major Fl. M. Dalrymple was sta
tion agent at Morristown, and the
story is told Of him that when the
news reached Morristown that Fort
Sumpter had been fred upon, Agent
Dalrymple set out to find flag. They
were scarce in those days, and he was
unable to purchase one in town after
hunting all day. Determined to have a
flag he called upon Miss Carrie Louns-
berry and explained the situation to
her. Summoning several neighb0rs
Miss Lounsberry purchased materials,
and by working all night the women
had flag six by ten feet. ready to
raise the next morning.
1t was raised without ceremony, but
when Superintendent Bassinger OF
the railroad, came to Morristown that
day on a special train he noticed the
nag and inquired of Agent Dalrymple
what effect it would have upon the
patrons of the railroad. Mr.. Dalrym-
pie replied that as long as he was
freight agent the flag would be dis
played.
The superintendent appreciated Mr..
Dalrmple's patriotism, and said he
would support him in his stand, and
the flag remained on the pole until
blown down by the wind
The old freight house also had a
belfry and bell which was rung fifteen
minutes before the trains arrived so as
to summon the patrons. When the
First Ward House house was erected,
Superintendent Reasoner gave the
bell to the company and it was re-
moved to the new belfry built for it on
the hose house, where it is rung in
case of fire.
Not only are the landmarks gone
but the men connected with that
period are fast passing away. Major
Dalrymple has been mentioned He
told the story of trip. from above
Morris Plains with a car load Of wood,
running by gravity as was the usual
custom then. On reaching the bridge
over the Whippany river he struck
tramp, knocking him into the water
far below The man arose from the
water unhurt but kicking loudly, be-
cause of the loss of his hat. Cars
were also run from Convent Station to
Morris pwn by gravity. At Convent
stores god were kept along the sid
ing for use in the engines
Tracy and his.mule were also we'll
known and veteran servants Of the
road. Tracy lost an arm in the ser
vice and was given the position OF en-
gine turner and also looked after the
coal sheds, while his donkey drew
loads Of coal, ETC., about the yard.
One Of the few old timers still at
work IS James Holly, now a tlagman
on the Morris street crossing. He
helped to move the old freight house
across the tracks, helped to narrow
the guage Of the tracks and served