Many southwest Missouri towns owe their existence to the once vibrant railroad system covering the nation.
Wheaton, Missouri is one of those towns.
But, its only surviving link to that past, its train depot, was in danger of being demolished.
So, the Wheaton Historical Society stepped in and is now restoring the depot to its original form.


The buzz of a drill and the roar of a chain saw is not the noise that filled the air when the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad rumbled through Wheaton.

"Wheaton was a major railroad stop and the depot was the back bone of the town,” says Wheaton Historical Society President Dale McCracken.

The Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad once ran right where I'm standing. It's no longer here but without it, the town of Wheaton would never have existed.

"Without the trains, it just wouldn't be there, Wheaton is the youngest town in the county,” says Emory Melton, member of the Barry County Historical Society.

It was founded in 1907 and got its name from the grain that once blanketed the area.
The town, and the depot, came to be because the next nearest stops were about 16 miles in both directions.
Now, The Wheaton Historical Society is restoring the run down depot.

"It was a booming little town when the railroad was here; it's the only thing we can hang on to to show why our town is here,” says McCracken.
"That's one of the major things Wheaton has to its existence,” says Melton.

So, with volunteered man power, and donated money, the Wheaton Historical Society is rebuilding the depot.

"It's going to be put back as close as possible,” says McCracken.

Plans are to finish the project by February 4th so the Wheaton historical society can hold its first annual celebration inside the depot.
So far, the historical society has raised about 35-thousand dollars.
Treasurer Betty Lamberson says they need twice that to finish the project.
One way they're raising money is by selling a book all about the history of Wheaton, Missouri.

If you're interested in purchasing a book or donating towards the depot, contact Ralph Lamberson at lite530@leru.net.