By Janice Dunnahoo, Special to the Daily Record — When Roswell dressed up to welcome the first railroad train to Roswell.
The following is the second part of the celebration for the first train to Roswell. Can you imagine the excitement? Before that first train, all passengers coming to Roswell had to travel by stagecoach or horseback. All the dry goods and even groceries, had to come in by wagon. The arrival of the train gave Roswell its’ first big celebration.
This article was written by historian and author Georgia Redfield, who considered herself an old-timer in Roswell.
I hope you enjoy the information.
Editor: The wording in this article is exactly as published at the time.
Roswell Daily Record
Oct. 1, 1940
When the First Railroad Train Came to Roswell back in 1894 – Part 2
First Baby Boy
Bob Ballard, the first baby boy born in Roswell: Hial and Warren Cobean, “Currie” Johnson, Abe Whiteman, just emerging from the short pants stage, stood on the sidelines, too young to take a part in the social affairs enjoyed by their older brothers.
In the evening for the grand ball, the young girls and matrons donned their pretty new evening gowns, and the men their “swallow tails” and “Prince Albert’s,” high hats, white ties and gloves, long wrapped in mothballs and saved for such important occasions as that long-ago celebration.
All of these sophistication of satins and brocaded silks, worn in after years, never brought the thrills of the simple white muslin, and dotted Swiss, ribbon trimmed frocks worn by those belles of the nineties. The white slippers, ordered by the stores to be shipped by wagon train failed to arrive in time. Of the borrowed ones some were too small and pinched; and some too large flopped very noticeably during the dances, interfering not one bit however, in the royal good time, experienced by some of that younger set who attended the ball, which was their first grown-up party. It was Roswell’s first brilliant, social affair that could compare with the grand balls and social functions in “the states,” and cities in the east. It marked another step in the process of development as well as culture and social affairs for the doors of the fine new Gallieur Block office building were opened for the first time for this railroad celebration; and the Roswell Commercial Club’s reception room, ballroom, dressing rooms and office were hurriedly made ready on completion of the building for this long planned-for celebration.
Besides the offices and Commercial Club suite of rooms, the Knights of Pythias hall and apartment of Charlie Carr, architect, who planned the building, were on the second floor. All of these were thrown open in honor of the occasion. This building, one of the few remaining of that era, is now used as an apartment or hotel, it is on Main between First and Second Street and is as firm and substantial as the day it was first completed.
An interesting incident remembered by many who attended the celebration ball was accidental, lighting, and firing simultaneously in one dazzling, spectacular flash, of all the fireworks intended for the grand finale of the day and evening. After all the pleasure of the day and the excitement of putting out the fire, the tired participants were more than glad to wind their weary way homeward, and the brilliant occasion of the Railroad Celebration soon had become only a happy memory that will remain always as a Red-Letter day in the lives of the Roswell “Old-Timers.”
Historian Janice Dunnahoo can be reached at jdunna@hotmail.com.