1910’s – Loading cotton at railroad depot, Tupelo

1910’s – Loading cotton at railroad depot, Tupelo

This man is loading cotton onto railcars at the Rock Island Depot in Tupelo.  Running south from Newport, the Rock Island Line provided a connection between the tiny agricultural settlements in that part of the county and the Iron Mountain Railway in Newport, for...
1900’s – White River Railroad Bridge

1900’s – White River Railroad Bridge

This postcard shows the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway bridge over the White River, three miles downstream from Newport.  The tracks then proceeded through town along the bluff side of the river, protecting the rails from the frequent overflows in the...
1900’s – Tuckerman Lumberyard

1900’s – Tuckerman Lumberyard

Tuckerman lies 10 miles north of Newport, and it derived much of its early wealth from the timber industry as well as the production of  cotton.  Here, a lumberyard stands close to the railroad tracks since Tuckerman is not situated on the river.  This photograph was...
1880’s – Joseph Coffin’s Mercantile

1880’s – Joseph Coffin’s Mercantile

Situated north of Newport on the Iron Mountain Railway line, the little town of Swifton was blessed with fertile land and a thriving economy.  Joseph Coffin’s store was a leading mercantile establishment in the 1880’s. From Watson, Tim, and Elizabeth...
1916 – Depot in Downtown Newport

1916 – Depot in Downtown Newport

The second St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway Depot in Newport was built in 1916, and it was a busy place through the 1930’s.  As roads improved and automobiles became more accessible, passenger traffic declined, but the railroads still carried most...