“Railroads that Built the West” Panel Discussion

A panel discussion entitled “Railroads that Built the West” will be hosted by the Sod House Museum in Aline on Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m. The panel is comprised of Mark Stubsten, Bill Cornelsen, and Jim Wilkinson, who are all from Major County, Oklahoma. They have collected interesting stories of many western railroads, with particular emphasis on the Orient (later called the Santa Fe Railroad) that crossed the Cherokee Strip. When the Orient Railway was initially built, the town of Fairview was directly impacted. On August 20, 1903, residents celebrated the arrival of the first train. By 1908 the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railways maintained machine shops, a round house, and a division point in Fairview. Such development meant workers in Fairview provided repairs to all engines and cars, and it became a railroad-minded community. The speakers will share stories about railroads in western Oklahoma and the discussion promises to both intrigue and entertain attendees.

Mark Stubsten is a retired vice president of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Fairview, and he remains an active civic leader. His interest in railroads and ability to remember details have aided local historians as they collect first-hand accounts of railroad history in the area.

Bill Cornelsen is a third generation resident of Major County, Oklahoma. He was born in Fairview in 1955 and his interest in railroads developed at an early age, watching trains on the Santa Fe Railway. Cornelsen served on the Fairview City Council from 1989 to 1993. He was involved in an effort to save the railroad through Fairview and also attempted the restoration of Santa Fe steam engine No. 2522.

Jim Wilkinson is a former associate district judge of Major County. After his retirement Wilkinson assisted with the publication of the second volume of Gloss Mountain Country, a history of Major County. He researched and prepared an in-depth review of the history of the Orient Railway for the book. Wilkinson grew up in Fairview and remains active with the Major County Historical Society and works on restoration of the railroad museum.