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God Bless America
By Jerry L. Ginther
Some of you may remember the old C&EI Railroad depot that used to sit along side the tracks near the corner of Harrison and Fuller streets. Probably fewer will remember the name of that railroad before the Missouri Pacific purchased or merged with the former Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad. I remember and I suspect those my age and older may have a nostalgic moment as they read this.
For many years in Sullivan's history, that little depot was the center of some very significant activity for our small town. Traveling folks arrived and departed daily from the platform of the station. Tickets for departure were sold at the ticket window in the waiting room. Express packages were shipped via REA express on passenger trains, and the U.S. mail arrived and departed the city on those same trains. Western Union telegrams containing messages and money were sent and received via the telegraph wire. The interchange of railroad cars between the three railroad carriers that served Sullivan was handled there. Loaded cars arrived daily and were spotted for unloading on sidetracks and spur tracks adjacent to businesses. It was the hub of commerce.
The agent-operator on duty had other responsibilities as well as handling the customer's business. He was required to inspect each passing train for dangerous conditions such as dragging equipment, sticking brakes, hot journals and shifting loads that may fall from cars. Often he would hand up written instructions, called train orders, to passing trains. Train orders instructed the train crews where they were to meet and pass other trains and were telegraphed to the operator from the train dispatcher located in Salem. This responsibility was top priority for the safe and efficient operation of train movements.
Now, let us remember the person who handled those responsibilities at the depot. He was a busy man and very interesting to observe as he handled his many duties. For him multitasking was a daily requirement of his employment long before the term was applied to the ability of computers. I hope many of you will remember this fine, upstanding citizen of our community. His name was Bert Condo. Some of you may remember that after his retirement from the railroad, Bert continued to serve the city as the crossing guard at Harrison and Jackson streets in front of Powers School. In his years as agent for the C&EI he was well known by his contemporaries and with the highest regard. It is with great fondness that I reflect on both the depot and the man that worked there for many years.
When I was a teen, Bert was my tutor and mentor. He allowed me to hang around that old depot with him in his last few years as the agent. During those latter years of his employment, business and rail traffic, especially passenger train service, had declined sharply, but I never tired of his stories of how it used to be. Even at that time I used to wonder how in the world one man ever handled the job if it was more hectic than what I was witnessing. However, I knew I wanted that job and hoped I wasn't seeing the end of an era.
Through his patience I learned telegraphy and many other aspects of this fascinating occupation. As a result, I enjoyed a career of nearly twenty-five years as a telegraph operator and train dispatcher for the Illinois Central R.R. The opportunity would not have been available to me without his investment of time and patience. All the while he was telling me I was pursuing a dying trade. It was true, but it lasted longer than he or I expected. It is with great respect that I remember Bert and his contribution to his community and me!
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