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Copyright © 2001-2011
Arthur John Huneke
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE COMPANY and ATLAS TERMINALS |
FROM 1903 C.R.4. - AMERICAN GRASS TWINE COMPANY SWITCH
FROM MAY 1904 EMPLOYE TIME TABLE
".....will stop to land passengers and Express at American Grass Twine Works."
".....will stop to receive passengers and 1314 will make regular stop at American Grass Twine Works."
Two advertisements by American Grass Twine Company of New York, NY
manufacturers of Crex Grass Rugs and Prairie Grass Furniture...
A 1905 BILL OF SALE FOR ITEMS SHIPPED VIA THE D. L. & W. TO CORTLANDT N. Y.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN GRASS TWINE COMPANY:
The logging industry had depleted its resources by the late 1880's and in the 1890's a new industry took its place. The vast low land prairies were covered by a luxurious growth of native wire grass. The American Grass Twine Company began harvesting this native grass for their factory in St. Paul which employed 700-800 people. The rugs and carpeting manufactured were similar to the Japanese matting and as a result of their being produced domestically were less expensive than those which were imported. The American grass Twine Company later became the Crex Carpeting Company of St. Paul. Camps number one, two, and three were located in Columbus township and 10,000 acres were included in the company's holdings. At one time, the camps employed 100 men and used 250 horses. The carpet company went into a decline after W.W.I and the land became tax delinquent. Many acres reverted to the state and later became part of what is now the Carlos Avery Game Preserve.
Visit CREX MEADOWS' WEBSITE ---->
FROM NOVEMBER 1904 EMPLOYE TIME TABLE
IT IS NOW PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE CO. WORKS
FROM SEPTEMBER 1908 EMPLOYE TIME TABLE
FROM 1913 C.R.4.
FROM SEPTEMBER 1915 EMPLOYE TIME TABLE
IN 1916 THEY OCCUPIED A ONE STORY BRICK AND FRAME BUILDING
JUST EAST OF THE FOUR STORY BRICK BUILDING AT DRY HARBOR ROAD.
NOTE THE SMALL HIGH PLATFORMS FOR BOTH EASTWARD AND WESTWARD TRACKS,
NO DOUBT FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING EXPRESS. PRAIRIE GRASS BUILDING IS IDENTIFIED AS
CREX GRASS FURNITURE COMPANY
C.R.4. FROM 1919
MAY 1923 EMPLOYE TIME TABLE
IT'S NOW PRAIRIE GRASS WORKS
SEPTEMBER 1923 EMPLOYE TIME TABLE HAS PRAIRIE GRASS WORKS
CROSSED OUT AND REPLACED BY "ATLAS"
1924 C.R.4. IDENTIFIES PROPERTY AS
"HEMMERDINGER ESTATE CORPORATION"
AND ONE OF THEIR TENANTS AS
"ATLAS WASTE MANUFACTURING COMPANY"
THE FOUR STORY BRICK BUILDING AT DRY HARBOR ROAD
HAD A SIGN IDENTIFYING ATLAS AS A TENANT
SEPTEMBER 27, 1925 REVISED "RUNS AND INSTRUCTIONS" FOR EMPLOYE TIME TABLE
NUMBER 102 OF MAY 21 HAS ONLY FOUR TRAINS STOPPING AT ATLAS
EMPLOYE TIME TABLE NUMBER 105 FROM OCTOBER 20, 1926
SHOWS TRAIN NUMBER 539 STOPPING AT DRY HARBOR ROAD
AND NUMBERS 503 AND 558 STOPPING AT "GLENDALE WELLS".
THIS IS THE TRACK ARRANGEMENT IN 1930.
THE CREX - PRAIRIE GRASS BUILDING IS STILL THERE.
SUBSEQUENTLY A SWITCHBACK AND ADDITIONAL SIDE TRACKS WERE ADDED.
THE CREX - PRAIRIE GRASS BUILDING IS GONE.
ONLY A SMALL LOCOMOTIVE COULD NEGOTIATE THE CURVES.
ART PHOTOGRAPHED THIS ATLAS SWITCHER IN THE SUMMER OF 1958.
IN AUGUST 1976 THIS ENGINE WAS PHOTOGRAPHED BY BILL MADDEN.
LOOKING EAST JANUARY 1971 - photo by RICHARD F. MAKSE - MANY THANKS DICK!
TRACKS AT LEFT WERE ATLAS TERMINAL
ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2002 SAM BERLINER RECORDED THESE SCENES.
THE LONG SIDE TRACK AND ALL SWITCHES ARE GONE - PART OF THE
M.T.A.'S DEVASTATION OF THE LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD'S FREIGHT SERVICE.
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