My brother-in-law, Chuck Althafer, did this historical painting of the 1900 Camp Creek train wreck to commemorate this tragic event.
This photo shows part of the original foundation of the Camp Creek Trestle. It remains on sight as a silent memorial to those lost June 23, 1900
Holly Quinn, Mark Galey-President of the Fuller Center of Greater Atlanta & Magnet Construction owner, Ms. Sandra Vincent, Kam Varner, and John Quinn
By Jason A. Smith
More than a century ago, McDonough was gripped by tragedy when 39 people died in a train wreck at Camp Creek.
This week, the story of that train will take center stage once again. A series of events are scheduled in the coming days, to commemorate the 112th anniversary of the McDonough Camp Creek train wreck. Those events include a stage production entitled “Old No. 7.” It is set for Tuesday, at 7 p.m., in the Henry County Performing Arts Center, in McDonough. The production will feature theater students from Dutchtown High School.
Gene Morris, historian for Henry County, has researched and written about the wreck, which rocked the Southern Crescent City of McDonough shortly before 10 p.m., Oct. 23, 1900. In his book, True Southerners, Morris described the incident as one of the most tragic stories in Henry County’s history.*
“The horror of the facts and circumstances has not been dulled by the passing of 100 years since that awful night in 1900,” Morris wrote.
“Old No. 7 was traveling from Macon to Atlanta, when it stopped in McDonough to clear the tracks for another train. After the second train passed, Old No. 7 then continued toward Atlanta.
“As the train proceeded north from McDonough, it started down the long grade to Camp Creek, about one and a half miles away,” Morris penned. “As the tracks approach Camp Creek, they make a slight curve to the left as they approach the 30-foot high embankments of the creek crossing. In the few minutes between the passing of ‘Red Ball Freight’ and the approach of ‘Old No. 7,’ the solid embankment had washed out from under the tracks. The engineer applied his brakes, but it was too late.”
#The author added the train entered, engine first, into a chasm which was about two train-car lengths in size, and the rest of the cars piled on top of it.
“As the cars hit the rain-swollen creek, they began to fill with water,” Morris wrote. “As survivors attempted to climb from the wreckage, they were swept down the raging torrent ... Witnesses told that almost as soon as the train crashed, it was engulfed in flames.”
Former McDonough City Councilwoman Sandra Vincent is among the individuals who are working to educate the community about the train wreck. Her daughter, Saraiah, will appear in the upcoming stage production.
Vincent said the train wreck continues to carry significance for the city of McDonough, even today.
“This was a very sad period in our history,” said Vincent. “We’re just trying to memorialize the lives of those who died tragically in that event.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is that the railroad was central to the development of McDonough,” she continued. “When the crash occurred, there was such a flurry of activity in trying to process the bodies. Some of the bodies were dismembered. Some of them, only partial pieces were recovered.”
Amid the destruction and chaos associated with the train wreck is a story of heroic acts by survivors of the wreck, and dozens of others who were nearby at the time. One of those heroes, Vincent said, was J.J. Quinlan, a flagman who was on the train the night of the crash.
“He actually ran from there to the Depot to let them know that a crash had occurred,” said Vincent.
Morris’ book states that Quinlan, after surviving the crash, climbed from the water to a steep, slippery embankment before reaching the train tracks.
“He assumed he was the only survivor,” Morris wrote. “However, his first thought was to get back to the McDonough Depot so as to prevent any other train from experiencing a similar fate.”
Quinlan’s contribution to rescue efforts in the wake of the wreck will be remembered, June 23, at 7 a.m., with a two-mile run. It will begin at Old Ivy Road and Ga. Highway 42, and end at the old McDonough Train Depot. Registration, which is free, is required, and forms are available at the McDonough Welcome Center on the Square.
John Quinn, of McDonough, serves with Vincent on a committee to commemorate the train wreck. Similar events, he said, will be conducted annually, in McDonough, during the month of June.
Quinn has worked for 14 years to secure a historical marker to pay tribute to victims of the incident. He was pleased, in March of this year, when the McDonough City Council voted to move forward with a plan to erect a marker.
“This was one of Georgia’s worst train disasters ever,” said Quinn. “Nobody’s ever put up a historical marker for these people. ... If I’ve never done anything right in my life, I wanted to do this for the train victims.”
Quinn and other supporters of the marker endeavor will find out, in October, whether their goal will become a reality. A Savannah-based group which makes historical markers will review the request, at that time, and decide whether to approve the request.
Other events have been scheduled for June 23, at the Chafin Building on the Square, in honor of the wreck. They include an exhibit, from 10 a.m., to 5 p.m., featuring a model replica of the train; and presentations by historians Jeffrey C. Wells and Mark Pollard, from 11 a.m., to 2 p.m.
The same day, at Alexander Park on Ga. Highway 42, a group from Bible Baptist Church, in Hampton, will perform. The concert will be followed by a candelight ceremony with Pastor Timothy McBride, from Tabernacle of Praise Church International, in McDonough.
Georgia Military College History Professor Jeff Wells, wrote this informative and interesting book about the 1900 Camp Creek train wreck. It was on sale at Bell, Book & Candle, which went out of business. You can find it on Amazon.
After getting my book signed by Professor Jeff Wells, we got our photo taken, to commemorate this historic time June 16, 2012 at the Meet & Greet at Bell, Book and Candle.
June 19, 2012
Tonight, commemorate the 112th anniversary of the McDonough Camp Creek train wreck. Those events include a stage production entitled “Old No. 7.” It is set for Tuesday, at 7 p.m., in the Henry County Performing Arts Center, in McDonough. The production will feature theater students from Dutchtown High School.
Don't miss out on this first time, historic event, to have a fantastic night watching the Dutchtown High School Musical Theatre tells the story of the Camp Creek Train Wreck of 1900. Performing Arts Center Tuesday Jun 19. A great night out for the family and it's free! Come support this group of talented kids, who have worked so hard to bring this play to stage for you. The play will entertain you, move you, and touch you. The music is incredible, some of these kids are likely to show up on Amerca's Got Talent some day. Yes, they are that good.
Listen NOW to "No 7" play is a "gift to the community" from the Dutchtown High School Musical Theatre Class-based on the June 23, 1900 Historic McDonough Camp Creek Train Wreck. The play was performed June 19, 2012 at 7 pm Henry County Performing Arts Center. “No 7,” a play by Dutchtown High School Musical Theater Class, Instructor Megan Rose-Houchins, and produced by Christian Magby. This play was based on the book “In Atlanta or in Hell” by author Jeffery C. Wells. Book signing followed performance. At the end (part 3) is a commentary by McDonough City Council Woman Sandra Vincent and the book author, Jeffery C. Wells.
For those who missed this performance, it is available for your viewing pleasure, below:
Promo / Cover
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1dIN2W0R1q5SnBfWDBDaVJxS2c/edit?usp=sharing
Part #1
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1dIN2W0R1q5cF9VUUE1YWpTOFE/edit?usp=sharing
Part #2
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1dIN2W0R1q5ZkFEeEM0R04zelE/edit?usp=sharing
Part #3
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1dIN2W0R1q5RUxHQUxkWjE1RXM/edit?usp=sharing
Clinton Hightower, died June 23, 1900. Mr. Hightower was an employee of Southern Railroad, riding on Number Seven that fateful night. He is the one who was identified, buried, and then a short time later during the wreck clean up, the unfortunate Mr. Hightower's boots were recovered - with his feet still in them. was exhumed and his feet (and boots, I would guess) reburied with his body at Concord Church Cemetery on Stagecoach Road in Stockbridge. His grandfather was Dr. Richard H. Hightower who helped create Stockbridge.
This is from the book "True Southerners:A Pictorial History of Henry County, Georgia" by Gene Morris, Jr which I purchased at Moye's Pharmacy in McDonough, Georgia in 2000-and Mr Gene Morris, Jr signed it for me. These book has some great vintage photos in this, and has many never seen before photos in it. Pages 86, 87 & 88:
"Old #7" Henry County's Own Titanic
"The story of the great Camp Creek Train Wreck is among the most tragic stories in our long history as a county. The story sounds much like a sad old ballad. The horror of the facts and circumstances has not been dulled by the passing of 100 years since that awful night in 1900.
Camp Creek is a small stream located about a mile and a half north of McDonough. This is the same stream which flows quietly under Jonesboro Rooad just east of Kroger. The ordinary flow of the stream is in no way threatening. The stage is set for this event by three weeks of daily rain leading up to June 23, 1900.
The Southern Railroad through Henry County has always been a very heavily traveled commercial and freight route. In the days before the automobile this railroad was also an important passenger route. Other than the unseasonably frequent rains it was business as usual at the McDonough Depot (now Stringer Lumber Company on Depot street) on that Saturday night.
When "Old #7" pulled into the Depot at 9:30p.m., on it's journey from Macon to Atlanta, it was made up of a combination passenger and baggage car, a first class coach and a Pullman sleeper. The train carried 48 passengers and crew and was already behind schedule due to the weather.
The night operator of the McDonough Depot had received orders from Macon for the Engineer to wait at McDonough for a eastbound train coming from Columbus by way of Luella and to clear the tracks for a "Red Ball Freight". The train passed and "Old #7" was released to continue her journey.
As the Train proceeded from McDonough it started down the long grade to Camp Creek about one and a half miles away. As the tracks approach Camp Creek they make a slight curve to the left as they approach the 30 foot high embankments of the creek crossing. In the few minutes between the passing of "Red Ball Freight" and "Old #7" the solid embankment had washed out from under the tracks. The engineer applied his brakes; but, it was too late.
The wasbout was about 2 train car lengths and the train barreled right into the chasm. The engine went in first and the rest of the cars piled on top. As the cars hit the rain swollen creek they began to fill with water. As survivors attempted to climb from the wreckage they were swept down the raging torrent. The scene was one of horror. Witnesses told that almost as soon as the train crashed in was engulfed in flames.
Mr. Quinlan, a flagman on the Train that night, survived the initial crash and climbed from the water and made his way up the steep, slippery embankment to the tracks. He assumed he was the only survivor; however, his first thought was to get back to the McDonough Depot so as to prevent any other train from experiencing a similar fate. Flagman Quinlan ran back to the Depot and as he arrive a northbound freight was pulling into the McDonough switch.
A call was put out and everyone who was able immediately headed from McDonough to the wreck scene. Many deeds of heroism occurred that night. Mr. John A. McDonald swam through the raging waters and saved a few. And Mr. Q.A. Dickson used a plow line he had used all season on his farm to pull several people out of the wreckage. The wreckage was lighted by the of the burning train cars.
The rescue efforts were heroic and dozens of McDonough citizens participated; however, of the 48 souls on "Old #7" when it left the McDonough Depot only 9 survived. The 39 bodies were taken to local undertakers B.B. Carmichael & sons and A.F. Bunn & company for burial preparation. The streets of McDonough were filled for days with the thousands who came from all over to see the site of the wreck and pay their respects.
The Camp Creek Wreck and the tragic and horrible fate of "Old #7" are a grim memory of the earliest days of the twentieth century and this is the story of Henry County's own "Titanic".
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