Madison (milepost SM 11.4)
History
Madison is a town and was the end of the Madison branch in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Except for Penn Brothers Suspender Company that came in 1914 (now Gem-Dandy, Inc.), Madison remained largely a tobacco town until after World War II. You can read more about the history of Madison at the town's official web site.
The ICC valuation reports indicate that there was a capacity for forty cars.
Here is the only photo I've found of the Madison depot. This photo circa 1977.
Track Diagram
An image from the ICC valuation maps gives a fair idea of how the track and depot were laid out. There was a section supply house, an oil house, and a combination station. Apparently, there was a Standard Oil company tanks, roller mill, and a wholesale grocery north of the tracks. Click on the thumbnail to view a larger detailed image.
Industries
A Southern Railway Shippers Guide from 1916 indicates that nine industries were located in Madison and may have used the A&Y for delivering and receiving products by rail. The N&W also served this town.
Industry Goods Shipped
Company Name
clay pit clay Pomona Terra Cotta Co. flour and grist mill flour and bran B. F Reynolds grain and hay dealer grain and hay T. D. Meador Grocery Co. grain and hay dealer grain and hay Madison Grocery Co. planing mill miscellaneous C. H. Fallin planing mill miscellaneous J. A. Pratt sawmill pine C. H. Fallin sawmill pine J. A. Pratt sawmill pine E. P. Cahill Odds and Ends
I don't know anything much about Madison. If you know anything about this township or the businesses and industries that might have used the railroad for shipping or receiving products, please let me know.
