Summary Information
Duane Paulson Papers
1966
River Falls SC 371
0.1 c.f. (1 folder) and 3 oversize maps
UW-River Falls, Chalmer Davee Library / River Falls Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Papers documenting the successful attempt by farmer Duane Paulson and others to purchase the Chicago and North Western Railway Company right of way between Hudson and River Falls, Wis., and thereby avoid development of the corridor; including correspondence, deeds, and three oversize maps showing the right of way.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-rfsc0371 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
In 1877, the St. Paul, Stillwater, and Taylors Falls Railroad Company proposed building tracks from Hudson, Wisconsin to River Falls, Wisconsin if Hudson, Troy, and River Falls Townships would issue bonds to buy the right-of-way and grade the road. In 1878 the Hudson and River Falls Railway Company was formed. The right-of-ways were soon purchased and work on the grade was started. On Saturday, October 26, 1878 rail service began. The service ran two passenger lines per day; later, a freight service was introduced. In 1880 area railroads (including the Hudson and River Falls) merged to form the North Wisconsin Railroad Company. The North Wisconsin was bought out by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha Railway in 1881, and locally and affectionately became known as the Omaha Line. The Omaha Line was owned and operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway Company. Passenger service between River Falls and Hudson was stopped shortly after World War II, but freight service continued until February 19, 1966 when declining traffic made the railroad unprofitable. Shortly afterwards, Duane Paulson, a farmer in the River Falls area, and other local land owners (fearing that the railroad right-of-way would be bought up by developers) initiated plans to buy that right-of-way.
Scope and Content Note
The papers in this collection show Duane Paulson's successful 1966 attempt to buy the right-of-way for the sections of Chicago and North Western Railway Co. tracks between River Falls, Wisconsin and Hudson, Wisconsin.
Most of the collection is contained in one folder, the first half of which contains correspondence between Duane Paulson, C. Lester Gaylord, and Ralph E. Senn (Mr. Paulson's attorneys), representatives from the Chicago and North Western Railway Co., the Young Mens Christian Association (St. Paul, Minnesota), and the Wisconsin Secretary of State. Also included in this first half is a Railroad Report from Abstract and Title Associates (Madison, Wisconsin), a set of hand-written notes, and Summary as to Amounts Received and Paid by Duane Paulson. These papers are preserved in chronological order.
The second half of the folder contains quit claim deeds between Duane Paulson and individual land owners concerning the right-of-way of railroad tracks.
In addition, there are three 55.5" × 24" maps showing the railroad property in question. These maps are housed in Map Drawer #9 in River Falls.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Materials donated February 20, 1990.
Processed by Timothy J. Danke, April 1990.
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