Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-06-24
The Jennie Smith Reunion.

The committee in charge of Jennie
Smith Reunion of the operating depart
ment employees of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, which will be held at Island Park
Harper's Ferry. Thursday. July 2Sth, has
practically completed all arrangements and
it is expected that the 29th annual gath
ering Of the railroad men will be the largest
ever held. Several special trains will con-
vey the railroaders. their families and
friends to Harper's Ferry from all points
east OF the Ohio river. A train will leave
Parkersburg early in the morning for the
accommodation of those between that city
and Cumberland, making stops at Cairo,
CORVALLIS, Pennsboro. West Union. Clarks-
burg, Grafton, Rowlesburg, Oakland, Pied
mont and Keyser, A special will also run
from Connellsville, stopping at points west
Of Cumberland. and another will make the
local stops between Cumberland and Har-
per's Ferry. There will likewise be special
trains from Baltimore. Washington. Fred
erick, Winchester and intermediate points
In addition to Miss Smith. number Of
prominent speakers will address the rail-
road men, including j. M. Rice. State Sec
rotary Of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation in West Virginia; T. E. Stacy,
Secretary Riverside Branch Y. M. C. A.,
and Rev. S. M. Afford, Pastor of Fort Ave-
nue. M. f. Church. Baltimore, and W. c.
Montignani. Secretary Of the Railroad Y.
M. C. A., Cumberland Miss Minnie Lem
kuhl. well-known church vocalist, of Bal
timore, will render several selections. Zim-
mermans band, of Baltimore, will furnish
the music, and other special features will
be provided for the days entertainment.
The committee in charge of the union is
composed Of C. G. Spurrier, chairman J,
l.. Hawse and W. C. Alexander.
Miss Jennie Smiths reunion at Harpers
Ferry is always notable occasion with
the trainmen and operating forces of the
Baltimore and Ohio and they look forward
to the annual gathering with unusual in
terest Miss Smith is known in railroad
circles throughout the United States as the
Little Mother of the Railroad Man." and
in her mission of carrying the Gospel into
the roundhOuses. rest houses telegraph
towers, shops and other places of employ
ment, she has made many acquaintance
among the rank and file Her first annual
gathering of Baltimore and Ohio men was
held in the summer of 1881, at Harper's
Ferry, and each succeeding year she has
brought the employees together in a renewal
of friendship. A feature of the union this
year will be the presence of many veteran
b. & o. employees who attended the first
meeting in 1881. but who are now on the
retired list
Miss Smiths evangelistic work among
the railroad men was begun on the B. &
o. when young girl scarcely out Of her
teens, and she stated recently that, des-
pite her national work, whenever she sees
"B. 4 o. under the window of locomotive
cab she feels more at home than at any
other time. Becoming an invalid In child
hood as the result of an accident Miss
Smith spent several years belfast. with
no improvement in her condition. Speci-
alists were consulted in various parts Of
the country from time to time, and while
making one of these jOurnies in a B. & O.
BAGGAGE car on cot the grayhaired bag
gagemaster suggested to the young girl
that she might find some relief through
prayer Miss Smith prayed with the rail-
road man in the baeeagecar, promising to
devote her life work. IL restored to the use
of her limbs, to spiritual work among rail-
road men; and for nearly forty years she
has been fulfilling her promise.