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Orphai T’rain Heritage Society
of America
CROSSROADS
Special Reunion Issue
Winter 1989
4912 Trout Farm Road • Springdale, Arkansas 72764 • (501) 751-7830
Volume 9
Reunion ’89...A Reunion to Remember
One highlight of Reunion ’89 was the Orphan Train Riders boarding the Arkansas and Missouri Railway’s vintage 1928 day coach, VIP car and caboose for a Sunday afternoon excursion.
A bit of apprehension was felt when Mary Ellen Johnson was informed Thursday evening the train could only carry 70 passengers, not 90 as had been originally scheduled.
Immediately, Leroy Johnson began making alternate plans to shift some of the round-trip tickets to one-way, thus giving more people an opportunity to ride the train.
At the Sunday morning meeting to decide just what was going to happen, tickets were exchanged, some folks could not stay and ride after planning to and everyone that wanted to ride got to ride.
Francis “Sas” Spurgin was determined that he and his wife Harvina would ride the train on Sunday even though he had left the hospital to attend Reunion ’89. On Saturday afternoon he experienced some chest pains but insisted he be allowed to enjoy the evening’s entertainment and would not let anyone call a doctor or paramedic.
Sunday Sas and Harvina happily boarded the train along with other Orphan Train Riders and ticket holders, rode round-trip and enjoyed every minute.
We regret Sas only lived one week after the Reunion and the train ride. Harvina assured Mary Ellen Johnson that it was one of the happiest occasions of his life and he really enjoyed telling friends and family in Nebraska about their trip to Arkansas and the train ride.
Three days earlier the gathering began with registration and the opening of a “Research Room” at the Park Inn site of Reunion ’89 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, October 5, 6, 7, and 8,1989.
The “Country Store” began in the same room but quickly spread into the hallway as more and more items were brought in to sell by the members.
Greetings from the riders on the “New Orphan Train* October 8
It’s a major fund-raiser of OTHSA and several items are stocked
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