Posted 11 years ago
moonspenders
(2 items)
Operating from Cleveland, Ohio, to its terminus at Valley Junction, the Valley Railway operated as a short line from 1880 until 1895. It went into receivership and became the Cleveland Terminal & Valley (CT&V) Railway until being absorbed by the B&O in 1915. Today, part of this original line operates as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Purchased separately at different online auctions, all three passes--made of heavyweight cardstock--once belonged to the same Western Union employee. They show not only the railroad's progression into receivership but also the employees promotions from telegraph operator to foreman. Their measurements are as follows: 1891 (light blue) 4 1/8" x 2 1/2"; 1893 (pink) 3 3/4" x 2 7/16"; 1894 (bicolor) 3 3/4" x 2 1/2". I have not yet been able to trace the actual employee, but he lay have lived in the Cleveland area.
Life isn't that full of REAL coincidences so count yourself lucky.
I don't think it was necessarily a coincidence; I think that, more than likely, when "A. Stevens" passed away, his possessions from the Valley Railway and Western Union were sold and scattered over the years. I can only hope there are more Valley Railway artifacts still out there in need of being reunited once more.