Kennesaw
Historical Society, Inc.
c/o Kennesaw Civil War Museum
2829 Cherokee St.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-975-0877
Do you have old photos or stories to contribute to this page? Contact Robert Jones at jone442@bellsouth.net.
Railroad houses, torn down 1994 (Photo by Robert Jones)
"My Grandfather always told me that house was two NC&StL section houses moved there and put together as one. Mrs. Susie Stegall lived in that house and I took piano lessons from her in there. She was also a writer for The Cobb County Times.
There was a NC&StL section gang based in Kennesaw and at Kennesaw Mountian as late as the 1950's. The section gang lived in company owned section houses and camp cars. The one at Kennesaw was down at "Dad's Camp", approximately where Jasper Lumber Co is today. The one at Kennesaw Mountain was at the railroad bridge on Hwy 293. These houses were by no means southern mansions, but I would not call them shanties, they were built by the NC&StL Railway in the early 1900's and painted NC&StL colors just like the depot, yellow & green.
I am of the opinion, that Mrs. Stegall's house originated from the NC&StL section houses that were in Kennesaw prior to the NC&StL building the new ones in the early 1900's." (Joe Bozeman)
Photo from the collection of Dain Schult
"This is a sight that will never be seen again. Nashville, Chattanooga, & St Louis F Unit streaking northbound through Kennesaw in the 1950's. This engine is pulling the "Dixie Flyer" , a "Top Notch" passenger train with a final destination of Chicago." (Joe Bozeman)
"This is the crew of The General on the run from Atlanta to Chattanooga in April 1962. The picture is from the collection of Carolyn Bozeman.
Left to right:
Fireman - Bunk Lewis, he is standing on the engine.
Flagman - C. L. "Hoss" Bozeman, a life long Kennesaw resident.
Conductor - George Black
Engineer - Paul West
This crew was made up of L & N trainmen in 1962; however each one of these gentlemen started their railroading with the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railway." (Joe Bozeman)
"This picture was made at the Kennesaw Depot during the 1963 run of The General from Atlanta to Chattanooga. It is from the collection of Carolyn Bozeman.
These are the living siblings, in 1963, of W. A. Skelton. Mr. Skelton was a life long resident of Big Shanty and Kennesaw, GA, and was a passenger on the train the General was pulling when it was stolen in 1862. He was a 14 year old boy and did not participate in the chase. He later joined the Confederate Army and served as a guard at Andersonville Prison. After the war, Mr. Skelton worked for the W & A Railroad and the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St Louis Railway. He was one of the four Confederate veterans who were honor guests at the premiere of "Gone With The Wind." His Grandfather Guess built and lived in one of the log shanties when the W & A Railroad was being graded through what is now Kennesaw.
Pictured left to right are:
E. M. Skelton - Retired NC&StL Conductor
Lela Arrington - Widow of NC&StL Baggage Master, Sid Arrington
Ed Skelton - Retired NC&StL Conductor
George Skelton - Retired NC&StL Conductor
The other three siblings were deceased in 1963, they were:
John Skelton - Retired NC&StL Conductor
Blake Skelton - NC&StL Fireman, killed in a train wreck at Ringgold, Ga.
Will Skelton - Farmer in Kennesaw.
Is it any wonder that the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St Louis Railway, was referred to as "Grand Pa's Road."" (Joe Bozeman)
"Although this picture was not taken in Kennesaw, this steam locomotive is a big part of our vanished past. This is the only remaining "Dixie Class," Type J3, "Yellow Stripe," 4-8-4, steam locomotive manufactured by ALCO for the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railway. She is now displayed in Centennial Park in Nashville, TN. The NC&StL Railway, was known as "Grand Pa's Road," and served Kennesaw for 67 years. The NC&StL, not the L & N, owned the lease with the State Of Georgia for the road bed from Atlanta to Chattanooga from 1890 until it was "merged" with the L & N in 1957.
This engine, and her 19 sisters, were common sights rolling through Kennesaw from 1941 until they were retired in 1952. When a "Yellow Stripe" came through town it was quite a sight. Imagine what a thrill it would be to hear her blowing for the crossing today.
These 20 engines, were the second 4-8-4's used by any railroad in the Southeast (their older sisters, 5 NC&StL J2's were the first). The J3 was a semi streamlined version of the J2 with more power and roller bearings on all wheels. They were 100 feet long, weighed 685,500 pounds (almost 343 tons), and had eight 70 inch driving wheels. Several Kennesaw residents were engineers on these beautiful engines for the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railway.
Wouldn't it be nice if this engine was displayed at The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. Not a chance, she's in Tennessee, and we have already "stolen" one engine from that state to our north.
This photograph was supplied by the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Preservation Society." (Joe Bozeman)
"This picture of C. L. "Hoss" Bozeman was made at the north switch in Kennesaw sometime in the 1920s. "Hoss" hired on with the NC&StL Railway on November 18, 1923, as a brakeman and retired as a conductor on January 31, 1965. He was a life long resident of Kennesaw. He was given the nickname "Hoss" on the railroad, but was referred to as "Doc" by his family. The old north switch was located just north of where the Kennesaw Museum is located today." (Joe Bozeman)
"This picture is from the collection of Dent Myers. It is the crowd gathered as the General came steaming into town in April 1962." (Joe Bozeman)
These two pictures are from the collection of Dent Myers. This little engine was used to promote the effort of getting the General permanently placed in Kennesaw. In these photos, it was in Savannah for the Christmas Parade. Pictured are Dent Myers, Miss Georgia, and Miss Cobb County. This little engine sat in Fuller Park for years.
"These two pictures were made during the 1962 Kennesaw Centennial Celebration. Pictured is Dent Myers during the festivities is his 1862 attire. Mr. Myers worked tirelessly to make this event a success, and later was one of the driving forces in getting the General permanently placed in Kennesaw." (Joe Bozeman)
"This picture is from the collection of Dent Myers. We cannot determine the exact date it was taken, but it had to be in the early 1970s. The Frey Cotton Gin looks to be in the process of being remodeled to make a home for The General. Ralph Frey's cabinet shop is seen standing where the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is located today. Dent is pictured on the far right of the photo." (Joe Bozeman)
"After years of hard work by many people, The General arrived in Kennesaw on a flat car in February 1972. Dent Myers stands guard by "His Buddy," making sure that she is home to stay." (Joe Bozeman)
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