Shortly
after coal had been discovered in Centralia, the Sentinel
reminisced
in the Jan. 28, 1875, issue about the industry which had
given
birth to the city. Until this time only the Illinois Central
had provided
employment for large numbers of Centralians.
“The
Centralia railroad shops were laid out, and ground first
broken
for their erection in the year 1854 under the supervision of
David
Oxley, the present efficient master mechanic.”
“In
the spring of 1855, the original town of Centralia was laid
out,
platted,
and recorded by the railroad company, embracing about
one-quarter section of land with the railroad depot in the
center and the shops a little southeast there from and very
nearly in the
center of
the section, being section 18, town one, north of range, and
one east of
the third principal meridian.”
“As
before mentioned, these shops were erected under the supervision
of David Oxley, who has had charge of them up to the
present.
The
simple fact is that, amid all of the changes of
administration that
have
taken place in the management of the railroad, he has
retained
his
position of master mechanic is prima face
evidence of
the ability
and
integrity with which he has managed the concerns of the
company
and
shows conclusively that he is indeed master of his business.”
“The
shops like all others of their kind are divided into
departments,
each supervised by a competent mechanic. Beginning at the
top
and working down, we have Mr. J.H. Oxley, the gentlemanly
and efficient
bookkeeper whose duties, although arduous, are performed
with correctness and dispatch. He is ably assisted in his
labors
by H.G. Hand, time keeper, and W.R. Young, store keeper, who
each have a particular branch to attend to and evidently
understand
their business.”
“The
machine shop proper is under the immediate charge of P.B.
Bryant,
foreman. In this department, sometimes called the finishing
shop,
is performed all the machine work required in the repair of
locomotives
and employs between 40 and 50 persons, and to one
unaccustomed to anything of this kind, it is indeed a most
lively place.”
“The
engine or round house, under the watchful care of A.W. Van
Antwerp
by day and M. Honness by night is at all times, either day
or
night, a busy place and employs 20 to 30 persons, exclusive
of the
engineers
and firemen, who are always busy about their engines on
lay-over days. It is in this department that the business of
the shops
is
transacted; that is to see that the engines are ready to go
out when
called
for and to go out at the proper time.”
“The
boiler shop, a very important part of the business, inasmuch
as
to the quality of the boiler depends the safety of the whole
engine,
is confided to the care of John K. Lape, a true and trusty
mechanic, in whose fidelity the company may safely confide
their
interests.
This department employs about twenty men who turn out
a
large amount of work.”
“The
blacksmith shop, in the care of Peter Hoag, is a model of
its kind. In this is prepared the rough iron, shaped and
forged to be finished
by the machinists to form the beautiful and completed whole.
In
this department are employed about twenty men and is a well
run and
orderly operation.”
“The
car repair shop, the operations of which are more extended
than
any other is supervised by James J. Giles. In this
department
are
repaired the cars belonging to the company and not..only
includes
the carpenters who work in the shop but the car repairers
who
work in the yards at Centralia, Effinghain, Vandalia and
DuQuoin,
and employs about twenty-five men who must maintain a
clear
head and active brain to keep the wheels running smoothly.”
“Mr.
Young, store keeper, has charge of all the supplies in and
about
the
shops and on the line of this division of the road and
extends from Cairo to Wapella, a distance of 230 miles, and
also furnishes much of
that
used on the Chicago branch as far north as Champaign.”
“While
the number is fewer now, there were times, particularly
during
the War (Civil), when twice or three times the number were
employed.”
“These
shops were not only the beginning but have been the main
support
of the city of Centralia.”
Note: David Oxley was master
mechanic at the IC shops until 189_ when he retired at 72. He
died in December 1897.