Historical Artifact Donated to
Society During 2023 Fair

Logbook from the Angelica, NY
station kept track of all checked
baggage originating at the station.

ANGELICA—On Monday of the fair, a gentleman walked into our museum carrying a historic book, intending to donate it. He turned out to be Randy Swarthout of Belfast, NY. Randy explained that his wife had picked the book up at an antique store several years ago. They had been intending on donating it for some time, and this year they made it happen.

Above—Cover of the Angelica station "Report of Baggage Forwarded."

What Randy had in hand came from the Angelica, NY depot ranging from 1904-05. It is a daily logbook of checked baggage on passenger trains. When passengers would check baggage at the depot to have it transported in the baggage car, a claim check/receipt was is-sued to the customer with a pre-printed four-digit number on it. These transactions were then logged in this book.

Above—Page from the report of forwarded baggage for October 1, 1904. The destination column has a 1-3-character code or abbreviation. Some of these may be the telegraph call letters for the station. The description also appears to use codes, although "Trunk" and "Chest" appear.

The logbook includes the customer's last name, claim number, type of baggage (trunk, bundle (carpet bag), luggage, or box) and the code letter(s) indicating the station to which the baggage was to be transported. There is one page for each day. It begins in January 1904 and continued into early-mid 1905.

Above—Undated page. Stations include St. Marys and Bolivar. "Hv" is probably Hornell.

The society wishes to thank Randy for this donation. It is a unique item in our collection that tells just one of the many interesting stories that make up the entire story that was the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern.

Above—Page from the report of forwarded baggage for September 21, 1904. Stations include Canaseraga and St. Marys. The four-digit numbers under the "Checks" column are individual claim ticket numbers. Note that the "From" line originally had "Angelica" hand-written and then later stamped with a rubber stamp. Below—Note this has only the station name rubber stamped. Whereas other pages had "Hv" this page has "Hville" as the city was named Hornellsville at that time.

Historical Artifact Donated toSociety During 2023 Fair

Logbook from the Angelica, NYstation kept track of all checkedbaggage originating at the station.

Historical Artifact Donated to
Society During 2023 Fair

Logbook from the Angelica, NY
station kept track of all checked
baggage originating at the station.