Re: [CBQ] Montgomery Sheepyard question

["cbqbill1x" <kybillhusb@gmail.com>]

All-thanks for all of the information regarding the Montgomery Sheepyards. I grew up in Oswego, and graduated from Oswego High School in 1958. Several of my parent's friends worked at the Montgomery Yards.

Here's a little more information about the Montgomery yards:

In 1960, the Montgomery Stockyards were the largest sheep barns in the world. The Montgomery stockyards were constructed by the CB&Q in 1880. The yards became an important source of employment for people in this area. The stockyard facility included the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's 20 track yard for loading, unloading, cleaning, and holding sheep for ultimate transfer to the Chicago Stockyards. A hotel was provided for the sheepherders and other in transit workers, Several farms located adjacent to the stockyards were owned by the Burlington Railroad, and were used for resting, grazing, and feeding in transit sheep. Sheepherders and other workers travelled with the train, and may have occupied a bunk* in the stockcar, or rode in a Drover's caboose (a "Cowboy Pullman") or similar "basic accommodation" car. [2]

The Montgomery stockyards were close to the final destination for sheep: the Chicago Stockyards, where the sheep would be slaughtered. In some cases, the shipper would want to have the sheep turned out to pasture for a few days to "fatten the sheep up" before being weighed at the Chicago stockyards. During transit, cattle and sheep lose weight because of lack of water and exercise; since the shipper was paid by weight at the Chicago stockyards, shippers would take every opportunity to feed, and water the animals before they arrived at the Chicago stockyards.

 

The "The 28-hour law of 1873" provided that cattle, sheep, etc., must not be confined in railroad cars for a longer period than 28 consecutive hours (or upon written request of the owner 36 consecutive hours) without unloading the same in a humane manner into properly equipped pens for rest, water, and feeding for a period of at least 5 consecutive hours. Animals can also be kept confined for longer than 28 hours if unloading the animals is not possible because of "accidental or unavoidable causes."

 

* My grandfather, Albert Frey, operated a poultry business in Earlville. At various times they shipped via the Burlington, live and dressed poultry to Chicago. Earlville is "only" 77 miles from Chicago, but in the early 1900's, when my grandfather was starting his business, there were no improved roads between Earlville and Chicago. Route 34/Ogden Avenue would have been the preferred truck route in later years. Route 34 was not completed until 1926. My uncle, who worked in the business said that it was common for a worker to travel "in the poultry car" between Earlville and Chicago. Most of the poultry probably was sold on South Water Street Market, which at the time was Chicago's largest wholesale market. The market had a rail terminal associated with it. 

You can find a photo of a typical poultry car of the era at https://ia802706.us.archive.org/0/items/carbuildersdict00forngoog/carbuildersdict00forngoog.pdf (pp 166)

The above reference provides a number of good photos of various freight and passenger cars of the era, including a photo of a Burlington Furniture car.

Adapted from [2]

Location of sheepyards:

 

north of Webster Street, on both sides of Route 31, and the yards were located between Aucutt and Jericho roads, west from Route 31 to Blackberry Creek. [2]

References:

 

1. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/840.html

2. "When Montgomery Counted (On) Sheep" Pat Torrance https://patch.com/illinois/montgomery/when-montgomery-counted-on-sheep

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