Commemorative Brick
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Commemorative Brick |
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Fireman & Engineer 44 years for C. B. & Q. 1926 -1970 |
Our Dad started his railroading career on the Santa Fe working in Wyoming building railroad trestles. Returning to Galesburg Bert was employed as a fireman on the C. B. & Q. working on the Galesburg Division making runs to Peoria, Rock Island and Quincy. He also worked out of Clinton, IA During his career he bad been on switch engines and freight trains as well as passenger runs.
When he returned to Galesburg he met our mother, Hazel Griffith, at the West Main St. Maid-Rite where she was employed. They were married on Nov. 10, 1928.
During the depression he was laid off and we moved to Macomb where he drove a truck for Dohrn Transfer and was local manager. At Christmas time in 1936 he was called back by the C. B.& Q. to work in Galesburg. After a couple of years he was again laid off and worked for the WPA until he again was called hack to the railroad. Remembering when Dad was on the Extra List and we didn't have a phone a "Call Boy" came from the Round House to our home on a bicycle to give him his orders. Patty especially remembers how when he went to work he always looked pretty spiffy with his starched cap worn at a cocky angle. (Mother put it over a 2# coffee can to dry after it was starched.)
Dad loved to play baseball and bought our first TV just in time for the World Series (in 51 or 52.) Gene Holt who also was a fireman for a short while, remembers hearing how Dad knew how to set someone straight without cursing. When he had layovers in Quincy he was always ready for a card game (which, in fact, Mother and Dad both enjoyed at home).
Peggy remembers Dad having her hold his Book of Rules when studying for engineer as he recited the rules by nunber. Dad was very serious and really knew them by heart. Ed Jr., also remembers on a family vacation on the Denver Zephyr going to Colorado. They were having trouble with the air conditioning. The engineer and crew knew Bert was on board with his family. They came back to the passenger car and asked for Bert's help and soon the cool air was on again. Needless to say this made Ed Jr. proud.
Betty Lou, the oldest daughter, was unhappy on the night of her high school graduation, the railroad could not or would not let him off to attend. Of course, being the Great Dad he was, he made up for it in other ways
The last few years before he retired he constantly worried about messing up his no accident record.
Our Dad was born in Golden, IL. in 1904 and died after a short illness in 1985.
His Ever Loving Children,
Ed Clark, Jr., Patty Fritz, Peggy Huff & Betty Lou Holt