Train Depot
The St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad was established
in 1881. Lowell was a village at that time. The 1889 Goodspeed's History of Benton County says greens, fruits, poultry, timber and railroad ties shipped extensively from the depot. The 1892-93 Springdale News reported Lowell shipped more raspberries than any line from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Monett, Missouri. A favorite event for Lowell teenagers was coming to the depot to see the train go by or who got off. Toby Tucker was the mail messenger for years, meeting the train night and morning. If it needed to stop, he signaled by waving a kerosene lantern, otherwise, a mail crane held the mail pouch track side where the train "snagged it" and kept moving on. Heavy incoming mail pouches were kicked or tossed off, at the precise moment, for Toby to take to the Post Office. In the 1940's, railroad officials put the depot building on a railcar and moved it to another location, possibly in Oklahoma. The boy in the photo on his bicycle is Elza Tucker, his son.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location. 36° 15.431′ N, 94° 7.897′ W. Marker is in Lowell, Arkansas, in Benton County. Marker is on Jackson Street south
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old City Jail (a few steps from this marker); IOOF/Masonic Lodge Building (a few steps from this marker); Lowell Postal Service (within shouting distance of this marker); Evaporator Near Railroad Track (within shouting distance of this marker); School House on McClure Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bank of Lowell (within shouting distance of this marker); L. P. Davis House and Grounds (within shouting distance of this marker); Evaporator Near School (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lowell.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on March 25, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
