Caldwell County MO Archives History .....OLD SECTION HOUSE AT HAMILTON 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 8, 2008, 4:18 pm

THE OLD SECTION HOUSE AT HAMILTON
	Narrator:  Wm. Hemry, 85, of Hamilton

     It was in 1885 that the old section house at Hamilton burned down, 
thereby riding that neighborhood of what had come to be a real nuisance.  It 
was one of the oldest buildings in town.  
     It was built at the coming of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad 1858.  
It stood on the railroad right of way on the road to the Clark flour mill, a 
little to the east and south of the present Ridings house.
     The first section boss whom Mr. Hemry recalls was Peter Jones, a Catholic 
whose home was the first house east of the mill, still used as a residence.  
Mr. Jones was here in the late 60s, and as section boss, he worked much at the 
section house, and kept the road tools there.  The next section boss was James 
Devoy whose home was at the west end of town.  It is said that he built this 
house from the lumber which the railroad had condemned to be burnt.  It was 
the custom for the railroad to order all timbers in wrecked cars and bad ties 
to be burned on the spot.
     A deep well was close by the section house where early trains stopped to 
take on water.  After trains ceased to use it, Frank Clark used the well to 
run his flouring mill.  Some years ago, a train was wrecked in this identical 
spot, and much of the soda from one car was spilt in the well.  The well had 
to be cleaned before Mr. Clark could use it in the mill.
     As the years went by, the section house fell into disuse.  No one used it 
but tramps and bad characters.  Probably they set it on fire by smoking 
there.  At any rate, it burned down and everyone was glad it was gone.
     Interview  1935.


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