304 N. Glover Drive, Longview, Texas 75601
The Texas and Pacific railroad was built into what is now
Longview, Texas, in 1870 before there was any Longview. It was
customary in building this line to establish a town site about
every ten miles apart. When the surveying crew reached the point
where our city now stands, they climbed a rather steep hill in
timber line. When they reached the top of this hill one fellow
exclaimed, ‘Look, what a long view ahead!’ And from this
remark the town established was named Longview.
Longview had its Centennial Celebration in May of 1970. Great
plans were made for this celebration and carried out to the
satisfaction of all. I was asked to address the Rotary Club on
‘The Age Of Steam’ and incidentally suggested that since
the railroad came to Longview first it would be fitting to have a
float made to head the parade duplicating the 1870 type locomotive.
The suggestion was immediately considered and plans adopted to
build it, the Rotary Club assuming all responsibility. Accordingly,
a blue print of the 1870 steam locomotive was secured and the work
was begun. This engine was to be 42′ in length, with a 13′
height cab, and 80′ drivers, complete with cylinders and side
rods. The old type headlight and cabbage-head smokestack along with
‘cow catcher,’ ancient brass bell and chime whistle were to
be in place. The Cab was placed upon two rubber tired wheels
equipped with hand brakes, while the front end (underneath the
boiler) was sup ported by a small tractor completely concealed from
view, with ‘port holes’ for the driver to see his way along
the streets. The chime whistle was blown by means of compressed air
and oxygen tank. The engine was, of course, painted black with
appropriate stripes and the name ‘SAM HOUSTON’ (named for
the first governor of Texas) was prominently displayed on the sides
of it. Since I was called ‘the daddy’ of this creation I
was asked to be ‘the hogger’ (engineer) to occupy the right
hand side of the cab and to blow the whistle for the street
crossings and to cheer the crowds along the way. The locomotive was
given the number 100, and when we handed into the man thoroughfares
where an estimated crowd of 35,000 people were waiting, great
cheers went up and hand signals were given for more ‘happy
whistling’ to be done. There were more than 200 floats in the
parade but old No. 100 took the first award. Nothing attracts
people more than a live steam locomotive or even a steam powered
tractor.
Since the Longview centennial in 1970 many other towns in this
area have had centennial celebrations. And old No. 100 has shared
in altogether eight street parades, and always she has carried off
the greatest honors. In commenting upon it the people have said,
‘It looks so realistic!’ It always fits into a centennial
parade, and it carries the minds of all who see it back to the days
of those who pioneered in the building of railroads and towns, some
of which are now modern cities with modern transportation
systems.