Correspondence

Scope and content:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1916-1997 (bulk 1948-1956), primarily comprises correspondence relating to the purchase and subsequent sale of the Tweetsie narrow gauge locomotive, cars, and related equipment and infrastructure. One file of legal and financial documents containing annual reports, agreements, and tax documents is also included. The correspondence is arranged chronologically and according to correspondent.

The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina (ET&WNC) Railroad Company correspondence file also includes bills of lading, inspection and repair reports, and designs for locomotive #12. A souvenir program celebrating ET&WNC's 85th anniversary is also included.

The Shenandoah Central Railroad file contains correspondence as well as the railroad's first annual report, a contract between George W. Anderson of Bridgewater and Shenandoah Central Railroad for railroad ties, and a list comprising the guests of honor attending the Golden Spike Ceremony on May 29, 1953 as well as a list of contributors and non-contributors.

Correspondence between Price and cartoonist and railroad enthusiast Carl Fallberg concerns Fallberg's 1953 cartoon drawing of the Shenandoah Central Railroad commissioned by Price. Mulitple copies of the cartoon are included.

Correspondence with Gene Autry concerns Autry's intended option to purchase the Tweetsie locomotive for use on his California ranch and in movies. Autry ultimately backed out on the purchase agreement due to the cost to transport and erect the narrow gauge locomotive and equipment. Financial agreements, legal documents, telegrams, and memoranda concerning the Autry Deal supplement the correspondence.

Additional correspondence includes Price's offer to various movie studios including Warner Brothers, Republic Productions, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Walt Disney to purchase Tweetsie and their respective responses. The new theme park Disneyland was undergoing construction at this time and Price was advised that Walt Disney might be interested in purchasing the locomotive and cars to incorporate into the new theme park. Disney responded that all of the locomotives and trains were being built on-site and scaled down to 5/8 the size. Price also wrote to Los Angeles-area newspapers urging them to write a human interest story about Tweetsie.

A single file of legal and financial documents is included in this series and filed after the correspondence. Shenandoah Central's first and second annual report, legal agreements, and tax documents are included.

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Parent restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Parent terms of access:
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

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