The Cotton Belt Symposium
Monday, April 16, 2007
10:00am - 3:00pm
at Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, Texas
(Rescheduled from November 30, 2006, due to ice storm.)
Ed Cooper photo | Robert McFatridge engineer
An event to document and preserve the legacy of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway.
A special invitation is extended to all former and current employees and their families to come and share recollections of their railroad days. Everyone is encouraged to bring and display historical photos depicting people, places, equipment, and rail operations to display. With permission, we would appreciate the opportunity to scan images for historic preservation. The event will recorded on videotape for historical documentation and preservation.
Anyone interested in the history of railroading in Commerce, Northeast Texas, or system wide on the Cotton Belt is welcome.
Authors and historians will be present to share information regarding their efforts to document the Cotton Belt and gather information for current and upcoming projects. A slideshow of Cotton Belt photos from the Ed Cooper, Terry A. Kirkland, and Standefer Family Collections will be presented.
Program
9:30am-10:00am Registration and renewing old acquaintances
Morning Session...
10:00am-12noon
Welcome and presentations
Jason Lee Davis, PhD |
- |
Introduction |
Madeline Justice, EdD |
- |
Welcome from |
Gregory A. Mitchell, MLS |
- |
Welcome from the |
Otha Spencer, PhD Author/Historian Commerce, Texas |
- | The history of
the Cotton Belt in Commerce from the perspective of the railroad men and their families. |
Bill B. Bailey Vice President/Chief Mechanical Officer Loco. 819 Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society, Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
- | Report on the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society and the ST.L.S-W. Steam Engine #819 |
Hon. Paul Lovier Chair, Northeast Texas Rural Rail District County Judge, Franklin County, Texas |
- | Status of the former SSW Dallas and Commerce subdivisions now owned by the NETEX Rail District |
Wayne Defebaugh President/Operations, Blacklands Railroad Sulphur Springs, Texas |
- | Status of operations on the Blacklands Railroad |
James Conrad, PhD |
- |
Resources for |
Ed Cooper Author/Biographer/Historian Crestwood, Kentucky |
- | Cotton Belt slideshow from the Ed Cooper, Terry
Kirkland, and Standefer Family Collections and report on research for biography of Cotton Belt Engineer C. W. “Red” Standefer |
Lunch...
12noon-1:00pm
Afternoon Session...
1:00pm-3:00pm
Discussion
Moderator: Murrel Hogue, Amtrak
Moderated discussion of people, places, and events associated with the Cotton
Belt Railway.
Audience participation is encouraged. Everyone is welcome to contribute
stories and recollections.
Historical Railroad Artifacts displayed by...
Arkansas Railroad Museum Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
Commerce Public Library Commerce, Texas |
Gee Library Special Collections tamuc, Commerce, Texas |
Hosted by...
The tamuc Department of Educational Leadership and the James G. Gee Library Special Collections.
Dr. Jason Lee Davis
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Educational Leadership,
tamuc
Jason_Davis@tamuc.edu
Dr. Jim Conrad
Head of
Special Collections,
tamuc
James_Conrad@tamuc.edu
Dr. Harley Davis
former Cotton Belt fireman
KC5PFR@aol.com
Location...
The Heritage Room in the
Sam Rayburn
Memorial Student Center (#22 on map)
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Commerce, Texas 75429
Primary parking in front of Student Center in Lot A
and along University Drive.
Parking also available on
east
side of Student Center on Neal St. and Lot L
How to get here...
Directions to Commerce
Campus Map
Commerce Union Depot, photo courtesy of Commerce
Public Library, used with permission.
Commerce Roundhouse, circa 1912, photo courtesy
of Commerce Public Library, used with permission.
Site URL: http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis/railroad/symposium/
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WebMaster: Jason Lee Davis | Page hosted by tamuc | Last update: September 11, 2021