Phillips County Museum News for Wednesday, October 18, 2023

How many of you remember the Great Northern Railway branch line that ran from approximately two miles west of Saco, north through Cole, Whitewater, Loring and on to Turner and Hogeland?

Surveying for the line started in late August 1927. Construction started in April 1928.

Approximately 2,000 men worked day and night shifts and in late October the line was completed at a cost of just under two million dollars. The first freight train went over the line one day after the workers were finished. The completion of the line allowed farmers to take their grain to elevators that were built in towns along the new line instead of having to make the long trip to the towns on the main line. The railway did a lot of marketing to get people to move to the area. In March 1928, they printed circulars and pamphlets telling about the area being opened up and interviewed successful farmers in the area. There were about 150,000 acres of land for sale ranging from $5.00 to $25.00 per acre. The railway also auctioned off lots in the nine communities along the line. The communities were Cole, Nichols, Whitewater, Ordean, Loring, Joseph, Chapman, Turner, and Hogeland. Deport agents were stationed in Whitewater, Loring, Turner, and Hogeland while the other communities just had depots.

Visit the Phillips County Museum to see a copy of an original Great Northern New Line circular.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.