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| Young wife stepped into path of train engine |
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| Question: Ideas for this column come from various sources - sometimes a phone call or a postcard. Today, Glenna Ragan came to the museum to submit her family history for the upcoming Volume II of the Boone County, Arkansas Family History Book. |
| In the course of the conversation, she mentioned her aunt, who had met an early death in 1926. She said she knew very little about it, not even a certain death date, but wondered if we could find more information. Here is what we found: |
| Answer: On Monday evening, November 28, 1927 (not 1926), a young Harrison couple were returning to their home on Eagle Heights after a trip to the downtown business area. Taking a shortcut through the M&NA Railroad yards was a common thing for people to do who lived on Eagle Heights, since walking - not riding in automobiles - was their means of getting to where they were going. |
 The accident occurred about 6:30 that evening. M&NA Train Number 211 from the north had changed engines and had made a main line change, while the engine - which had been relieved - was on the passing track, backing toward the round house. Braz and Nora Alice Graham (pictured right) were waiting for Train Number 211 on the main track to pull out, when they stepped into the path of the engine backing out of the round house.
Braz Graham was knocked backward but escaped with only slight injuries, while his young wife was crushed and killed instantly, being dragged about 15 feet by the engine. Relatives said that Braz said many times that they had been holding hands just before the accident, and he regretted turning loose of her hand only minutes before, because he felt he could have saved her if only he had continued holding her hand.
Many people remember Braz Graham and his station just across the Crooked Creek bridge at the bottom of Harrison Hill. He and Luther Smith were partners in this business for years. |
| They sold gasoline, kerosene and oil as their store was similar to the mom and pop neighborhood grocery stores of that era. You could buy bologna, light bread, soda pop and ice cream, and you could even sell them the pop bottles you picked up through the week for enough money for the Saturday matinee. Braz and Luther paid 2 cents per bottle - five empties and you had money for a Roy Rogers or a Maw and Paw Kettle movie at the Lyric. But you didn't dare try to buy cigarettes, because Braz would tell your folks. |
| Just ask one "old" boy who found out the hard way. |
| But at the same time, Braz and Luther could keep a secret. Two "good old boys" bought enough Ivory soap to "decorate" the Woodland Heights School windows, and they never told on those guys - and it wasn't even Halloween. |
| Nora Alice Graham was the daughter of John Ellis and Linda Bishop of Alpena. She had married Braz Graham on September 20, 1925. Other Bishop children were: |
| Maymie Lois, who married Jewell Whitaker; |
| Jessie Clyde, who married Johnny Jones; |
| Mary Elizabeth, who died of typhoid fever at age 12; |
| Ruby Eileen, who married Henry Williams; |
| Freeda Jean, who married Thedford Campbell. After Campbell's death, Freeda married Ralph Banta and they operated Banta's House of Apples and Orchard for many years near Green Forest. After five daughters, the Bishops had one son, who was stillborn. |
| Train mishaps also played a role in the life of another member of this family. Jessie Clyde's husband, John Jones, was the young soldier on board when the Thomas C. McRae M&A Motorailer Number 705 was slammed by a milk truck August 23, 1946 at the junction of Highway 65 North and the train tracks. He is credited for his heroism as he stayed on the burning wreckage, making sure everyone got out first as the coach filled with smoke. Jessie and John later divorced, and she raised five wonderful children as a single, hardworking mom. |
| Funeral services for Nora Alice Graham were held the day after the accident at the Baptist Tabernacle, and even though the newspaper stated the burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, she is interred in Maplewood Cemetery. Braz later married Ora Belle Hubbs and they lived on South Ash Street for many years. He died June 27, 1975. |
| Take time to share your family stories in the upcoming Volume II of the Boone County, Arkansas Family History Book. It is important to preserve the history of Boone County and its people. The submission deadline has been extended until December 29, 2006. Your submission can be mailed to Box 1094, Harrison, Arkansas, or dropped in the slot at the Boone County Heritage Museum located at 124 South Cherry. |
| As in years past, the museum begins the winter season December 1 and will only be open on Thursdays during December, January and February. This is not an easy decision for the Historical Society, but since we operate on limited funds, we save money by not heating the large building during cold weather. Stop by any Thursday and spend some time at the museum. |
| This column appears Fridays in the Harrison Daily Times. Mail questions to Boone County Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 1094, Harrison, AR 72601. Marilyn Breece can be contacted at bchm@windstream.net |
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