Campbell's

One of my favorite spots in town was Lawson Campbell’s blacksmith shop; the first and only. He was always busy fixing farm equipment. It was smoky, noisy and fascinating with the big wide bells moving on big wheels to run different tools. Bellows to keep the coal fire red hot to soften the steel. It was a hard packed dirt floor with odd shaped pieces of steel laying around. His Blacksmith shop was in operation from 1937 to 1976.

Remember camping and swimming at Marean Lake when his daughter Joanie Campbell; who was in my grade had a heart attack from the cold water and died. They held the funeral in the town hall and the kids in our grade were in the front row, not really understanding.

Train Station

1952 Carragana Station

Used to love going to the small station and watching the station master work on the telegraph. And watch the trains come in and the people get off the train and cream can and egg crates loaded up.

My dad had to pick up the mail and send it in canvas bags with big locks at the train station. He had an awesome Fargo truck that he used to park on the platform right next to the tracks. One time when I was little I left the door to the truck flapping in the wind and train engine hit it and took it off at the hinges.

Stockyard and Worktrains

Dad (Leonard Paul) was postmaster from 1951-05-01till 1967-04-14 and Mom ( Doreen) taught school off and on for years and taught 4-H. He also took the cows and pigs on Saturday at the stockyards and loaded them on the train. And you can be sure that I was there most Saturdays watching as they loaded the pigs and cows, I remember three men carrying up a sow by the ears and tail.


The railway tracks, siding, cars, work trains always drew me from walking the line to putting coins and metal seals on the track for the train to flatten out. My favorite was the work trains they were so different.


Work trains repaired and maintained track. Besides the repair equipment, they included a cook-supply car, a cook car, a dining car, and bunk, recreation and shower cars. The bunk cars were the sleeping cars for the work crews, as well as their living area after the day's work was done.