KVRR / The Ol' Hook & Eye Book

· Over 180 pages
· 110 photos · Maps and tack plans · Index
· 6 by 9 in. (15 by 23 cm) perfect bound

The Ol' Hook & Eye

A History of the Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad

By John G. (Jerry) Hartzler

In 1988, after years of research, I wrote a history of the KV railroad in a book titled The Ol' Hook & Eye. I published 2,000 books and sold them for $16.50 apiece. All were gone within a few years. I must admit, that I didn't think this book would be as popular as it was. I grew up in Belleville, terminus for the KV, and my original intention was to document, for posterity, a little piece of history for the town and surrounding areas. Imagine my pleasure when I began receiving orders from every state and from across seas. Rail fans had found my book!

It is now over a decade later, and people are still asking me if I have copies. The sad answer is no, and I have not for quite a number of years. But, with the advent of the internet, I was supplied with the medium to bring the condensed version of the KV to everyone with access to a computer.

Although this technology is wonderful, it still cannot replace the book. Therefore, I am doing a 2nd edition of The Ol' Hook & Eye, with some new information and a few more photographs.

Book Update

A long time ago, when I was doing research for the first edition of the book, I tracked down an old KV directors minute book from 1915-1940. I received this book from Robert Maclay Jr., whose father and grandfather were the secretaries of the KVRR. This was a very valuable find for me, but I always wondered whatever happened to the first minute book from 1892-1914.

Recently I was contacted by the Kishacoquillas Valley Historical Society in Allensville, who said that they had received an old KV minute book. I knew that Maclay's minute book was at the Mifflin County Historical Society in Lewistown, so this one had to be the one I was looking for. Indeed, it was! And an interesting story of how this book came into my hands follows.

In 1998, Bill Brumbaugh of Lewistown visited a shop in Belleville to buy my book, The Ol' Hook & Eye. He was told that I had passed away and that my wife had taken all of the remaining books off the shelves! He was told this on two occasions. He then spoke with several other people in the area who said they also thought that I'd died. Peg Stanley, who I recently spoke with, tried to persuade Bill that I was still alive and said "Bill, if Jerry's dead, I just spoke with a ghost!" I then called Bill and convinced him that, as far as I knew, I was still kicking as well as unmarried. Bill did not know the name of the store, and the stores I have contacted knew nothing about this. I wonder if there's a woman out there masquerading as my wife and stockpiling all of my out-of-print books? Either way, it makes for a good story!

In 1942, Anne Bonson of Reedsville was doing a High School report on the KV railroad. She traveled to Belleville to visit Dr. Getter, and after an interview, she got up to leave. Before she reached the door, Getter called out, "Oh, here's something that might help you." and handed her the old minute book. Less than a week later Getter died and Anne was left with the book. The minute book was packed away and forgotten until 58 years later.

Forward into time to the year 2000. Anne is now married with children and still living in Reedsville. Steve Dunkle, of Allensville, a friend and also a member of the Kishacoquillas Valley Historical Society gives Anne a calendar that the society is selling. It's filled with old photographs of Kishacoquillas Valley. This must have sparked something in her, for she replied, "You know, I have something that your society might like to have."(!)

I shudder to think the fate of the minute book had Getter not given it to Anne!

Below are some other one-of-a-kind railroad books in Pennsylvania. For a condensed version of The Ol' Hook & Eye see the Lewistown and the Pennsylvania Railroad book.

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