The Hallsville DepotThe Depot ProjectSince the Depot was taken down years ago, citizens have always spoke in reverence towards their memory of the building and it's place in their life. In 2024, the Hallsville Historical Society board members sparked the flames of an idea to bring that building back to life for the future generations of Hallsville to cherish and enjoy. With the help of the community and many other organizations in relation to the history of Missouri, Boone County, and the town of Hallsville, we plan to reconstruct this piece of railroad history. The plan is to construct a full size replica of the station within the Historical Society complex in Tribble Park in downtown Hallsville. The board has been working with Wabash and Colt Railroad historians, as well as State and National funding opportunities for assisting in making this dream a reality. The Depot HistoryBy North Todd Gentry:
When the branch road was built, it had only two stations between Centralia and Columbia, viz Stephens, six miles from Columbia, and Hickman, seven miles further North; the former named for James L. Stephens, and the latter for David H. Hickman. Afterwards seven other stations were established. viz Persinger, named for Judge Alexander Persinger, Brown for Dr. L. B. Brown, Burnam for John F. Burnam, Bush for Colby Bush, Hallsville for Judge John W. Hall, More for Col. E. C. More, and Switzler for Col. William F. Switzler. Hickman was three-fourths of a mile South of Hallsville; and in December 1886 the depot was moved to the East of Hallsville, and it was thereafter called Hallsville. Persinger station was between Switzler and More. A post office was established called Stephens Depot on November 25, 1867, and John S. Stephenson was the first post master, and he kept the office in the depot. The name of the post office was changed to Stephens on March 16, 1868, then discontinued in 1873, re-established in 1874, and again discontinued in 1875. The telegraph line to Columbia was started shortly after the railroad was built, but was not completed till April 10, 1868. While workmen were at the curve South of Persinger station, they stretched a telegraph wire across the track; and, as that was before torpedoes were provided, the workmen did not know of an approaching train. When the locomotive came around the curve, it caught the wire and jerked down a telegraph pole, throwing a stock car off the track. The Writings of North Todd Gentry - 2011 - Dalton & James |