PagePedia^™ History
Segments Presented by Lyle Harvey

THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD
(Read at the Page Methodist Church on May 18, 2008)

When the settlers came to Pleasant Valley they had no idea that, or if a railroad would be coming near them. Their intent had been to try to find the land that suited them. As we stated before, the little sod schoolhouse built by community efforts had served as a school, church and public meeting place from 1883 to 1890.

The settlers here received their mail at Inman and probably took turns picking up the mail for each other once a week or whenever it was convenient. For settlers in the northern part of the county, the distance presented more of a problem. For them, some settlers agreed to make the trek once a week to get the mail and kept it in their homes until it could be picked up. These homes usually took on family names and tended to serve as a tiny town. These would include; Haynesville, Brewer, Lambert, Moore, Cleveland, Mineola, Disney, Norwood, Opportunity and many others. Some of these little places actually did turn into a small village for a time.

So, when news of the coming railroad arrived at Pleasant Valley, that would have been tremendously exciting news. It was probably the railroad officials who determined that there would be a stop about every fifteen miles. Since Pleasant Valley was about halfway between Orchard and O’Neill, a distance of about fifteen miles each way, it was decided there would be a stop here. Now, what do the settlers call this stopping place? The U.S. Government wanted to know what it would be called so that an address could be attached. Salinda Page had been the first teacher at Pleasant Valley and became the first postmaster. Since the name Pleasant Valley had already been taken elsewhere in Nebraska, it was agreed this new locality would be called Page.

This new rail line somewhat followed the old supply trail that led from Fremont to the Black Hills. This old trail was used after gold was discovered in the Black Hills. (Rod Kennedy’s relative was a driver on this line) The old trail ran northwest from Emporia, north of Page (I am told) and then on through the south edge of O’Neill passing near the site of where the sale barn is today.

The railroad surveying crew was the first group to arrive to determine where the rail line would be laid. Then came the grading crews with all their horses, mules and scrapers to move the dirt, put in the culverts and lay the bed for the rails. Lastly, were the track crews, they laid the ties, set on the rails and leveled the track. The first work train came right behind the track crew.

Rollie Snell said the track crew arrived in town on the 3rd of July 1890. All work was stopped on the 4th of July and a community celebration was held. He described it as a very exciting time and it was a wild celebration. A new town was to begin and it would be called Page.

Lyle Harvey

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