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The first image of the Keysville Depot. PK and I think is before WWI, perhaps 1917 or so. We know that is Thelma Pettus Fowlkes, my grandmother’s cousin, a Lunenburg Girl, pushing the fellow up the tree. It is a great original “Depot Series” photo. My grandma is the photographer, and I have her negatives. PK is trying to get our Uncle Oat to recognize the two fellows, we think they are Berthie’s Hanmer brothers. Excellent image of the station in background is great for restoration purposes. |
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Image used in newspapers to promote event. (My daughter Tilly and her pal Kiara.) |
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My dad Reg Pettus and myself walking the tracks at the big Dixie Days event in 1970. Nice view of an old Southern Diesel Locomotive used to pulled the excursion passenger train.(I still have that Safari Jacket of his …) |
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Great image of Captain HD Hanmer, who was a scout in the 3rd New York Cavalry and took part in the the Wilson-Kautz Raid. He helped destroy the R&D line, only to be stopped at the The Bridge. Being impressed by the timber, he later returned to the Keysville Fort Mitchell area, and one of the regions earliest big sawmill operators and lumber dealers. He was an interesting historical figure who had a huge impact on the evolution of both Keysville and Fort Mitchell. He helped destroy the original Keysville Depot, and then contributed to the economic growth that enabled the re-building of the Keysville Depot and construction of Fort Mitchell. (Oat, PK and I are all descended from him, as well as many folks in the local area.) There was a huge article in the Crewe-Burkeville Journal back March 21 1996, quoting my dad. It would be interesting to reference. |
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Great image of the Fort Mitchell Depot and an excursion steam train, circa 1972 or so. |
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Image of Keysville featuring the historic shops (Wilson’s Store, the BeeHive Bar) The Charlotte Hotel and the Station before the roof collapsed. |
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Here are some images of the Dixie Limited steam engine enroute to Keysville, and then sitting in the train yards outside the Depot. The trains would always blow for that first unmarked crossing, then really hit it at the main crossing… so they were blowing in front of our house for a long time. |
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Of course, the leggy model is Anne T Pettus, the summer before I went into 8th Grade. This is circa 1971 I believe. |