The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition Thursday, July 1, 1976 Section A, Page 3 ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD BUILT IN HODGES IN 1906 AND FIRST TRAIN WENT THROUGH JULY 17 The Illinois Central Railroad that runs through Hodges as built in 1906 and 1907. the first train went through on July 17, 1907. the people used mules, wagons and hand tools to build the railroads. They had a camp to live in where the pump house was formerly stationed at Hodges Lake. A water tank was built near the depot where the trains got water. All the early trains were steam engines. They used coal for fuel. The coal was hauled on steer wagons. After the railroad was built, Hodges was born. The first postoffice(sic) was one and three fourths miles south of Hodges on what is now Hwy. 187. It was later moved to one half mile east of the present City Hall. Mr. J. R. SULLIVAN had a store there and the post office was located in his store. The first stores in Hodges was that of Jim MIXON in 1907, Warren CARPENTER in 1908, J. M. OSBORN and Bill SHOTTS who came from Shottsville, U. D. STIDHAM and Will GREEN, Claude BOBO, Elmer WIGINTON, J. W. FARRIS from Bear Creek, Dock LOVELESS and Bill COFIELD was cashier and died June 24, 1934 of self inflicted wounds. The oldest house still standing in Hodges is the J. R. SULLIVAN house just of the highway across from Eva HAYNE's residence. Over the past years, Hodges has had 4 doctors. The first one was Dr. SHERMON from Bear Creek. He stayed in the town for about a year and then returned to Bear Creek. Dr. GASGOW from Belgreen stayed 2 years and moved to Russellville. Dr. MOORE was the doctor in Hodges for several years. The last doctor was Dr. FLIPPO who also stayed in Hodges for a number of years. He reared his family in Hodges and one of his sons, Wayne FLIPPO still resides in Hodges. Now during the Bicentennial year, the little town of Hodges is beginning to prosper once again. They are expecting to have a clinic in town sometime during the first of July. the town has already gotten a grant to repair and get ready the 4 room apartment that was built for the policement(sic) to reside in. It will have 3 examining rooms and one sitting room. The people of Hodges are looking forward to having this clinic there. The sleepy little town of Hodges, once had several booming businessess(sic) and industries. Some of the early industries included the Grist mill that for about 25 years (sic) grinding corn for meal for the residents. He also had a shoe shop located in the same building. V. H. and Lawton GARY owned the cotton gin for a number of years there. The SCOTT Brothers owned the gins after the LAWTONS. V. H. GARY also operated a low mill and planer(sic) and did work for the public. The first school house in Hodges was one half mil south east of the present City Hall. Somewhere around 1923 the present school house was built about one half mile north of Hodges. The school was discontinued in 1970. During this year of the nation's Bicentennial celebrations, Hodges residents can boast of the achievements of the little town. They have city water now, with a big water tank on the hill west of the Hodges Lake. The water was turned on in February of 1975. Mr. and Mrs. Jake GOBER let the town have the land to set the tank on. There are presently two grocery stores, West Grocery owned and operated by Wendall WEST and Palmer Grocery owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ira PALMER. Hodges had a beauty shop owned by Mrs. Mary BAILEY, a Standard Service Station owned by James HARDIN, a garage owned by Bob TAYLOR and a barber shop owned by Elbert KENNEDY. The PALMER Brothers Cabinet Shop is an asset to Hodges. There they make rafters and trusses for houses as well as cabinet work. Also in town is Associated Forest Products, a big lumber yard where lumber is brought in by train and delivered by trucks. It is operated by Fred TETRO and assistant Trumon SCOTT. Several men are employed there as well s tow secretaries. A cafe just recently opened in Hodges and is run by Mrs. Arthur DYER of Vina. They(sic) mayor of Hodges is K. V. WILLIFORD and counsilmen(sic) are: elbert KENNEDY, Wendel WEST, James A. BRAND, Kenneth NICHOLS, and Ronald HOLLAND. The secretary and treasurer is Mrs. Barbara WEST. Hodges also has a beautiful land mark that people come for miles to visit and that is Rock Bridge Canyon owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jasper AVERY.