It was the railroad that brought prosperity to the area. In 1870, when Mr. Peirce established Peirce City (original spelling) as a railroad town it enabled farmers to send their produce to market in far off places, such as St. Louis. My grandfather, who taught in rural schools for over forty years in Lawrence and Jasper Counties was the secretary of the berry association. It provided employment for a month or two after the schools closed. His responsibilities included purchasing containers and shipping crates and arranging for railroad cars. As others have stated, every kid who was old enough picked berries all day during the short season. When I see strawberries in stores all year long it reminds me how short the season was in SW Missouri. You had strawberry shortcake for a few weeks and then it was over until the following year. I still raise strawberries today and the season is still short because I refuse to buy those huge berries shipped in from strange sounding places. Bill ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com