It cost about 35 cents to ride the train
from Old Anson to Cornell, a distance of about 25 miles. In the year 1915,
a development arose which changed the growth of Old Anson. A huge dam was
to be built across the Chippewa river which would put many farmers land
under water. The farmers in that area were given notice that hey had one
winter to take the timber off of their lands which they could use for
themselves. This development caused some unfortunate events to occur.
Since the area to be underwater included most of the lower portion of the
yellow river, the bridge for the railroad was in danger too. A bridge to
cover the new span could not be built. Therefore the bridge had to be
taken out and relocated in another place. The new bridge was laid out and
put in just west of highway "S". The water covered everything in
sight from silos to barns and fences. From Dennis Harp and Jack and
Zilpha Melville from "Memories of Cobban" by Emil Gerber
In later years it was said that there was a
drowning of two men when their boat presumably struck a silo just under
the water. Their boat capsized and they were trapped inside the silo. The
water left farmers with a great loss of acreage.
If you
have any new information, stories, corrections, or pictures regarding this
or any of the other towns along the Hannibal branch line, Please let me
know, < E-mail > along with
your permission to publish your personal memories in an attempt to keep
the history available for future generations. Non-digital pictures will be
returned upon request.
Thanks for looking,
Doug Stoll
