1875 Housatonic Railroad / B. S. Hubbell of Stepney, Co. Receipt for RR Ties
$ 14.26
Description
1875 Housatonic Railroad / B. S. Hubbell of Stepney, Co. Receipt for RR Ties. “Examined and Correct — J. L. Lann” (likely auditor). (Superintendent’s signature). Fully itemized tie counts and rates (50¢ and 25¢ per tie). Signed receipt by B. S. Hubbell, a known Stepney supplier. Document Summary Date: April 30, 1875 Location: Stepney, Connecticut From: Housatonic Rail Road Co. To: B. S. Hubbell Amount: $54.00 Purpose: Payment for ties supplied to the railroad Voucher No.: 52 📜 Front Transcription Heading: Housatonic Rail Road Co. Stepney, April 30ᵗʰ, 1875 To B. S. Hubbell, Dr. Quantity Description Rate Amount 104 Ties @ 50¢ $52.00 8 “ @ 25¢ 2.00 Total $54.00 Endorsements: “Correct” noted and initialed by supervisor. “Examined and Correct — J. L. Lann” (likely auditor). “Received Payment — B. S. Hubbell” (signature in full). 📄 Reverse Side (Voucher Sheet) Details: Voucher No.: 52 Payee: B. S. Hubbell Location: Stepney Charged: May 31, 1875 Amount: $54.00 Account Category: “Renewals, Ties” Approved by: “M. McGrath, Sup.” (Superintendent’s signature). ⚙️ Historical Context This 1875 document dates from a period of railroad renewal and track expansion across western Connecticut, as the Housatonic Rail Road maintained its route north from Bridgeport through Stepney, New Milford, and Canaan toward the Massachusetts border. The invoice records the purchase of 112 railroad ties (timber cross-ties), almost certainly oak or chestnut, both common in the region’s woodlands. These ties were essential for track maintenance, replacing weathered or rotted sleepers to keep rails level and safe. B. S. Hubbell was a known local supplier and farmer from Stepney (in present-day Monroe, Connecticut), frequently appearing on Housatonic RR accounts from the early 1870s. His repeated contracts indicate a steady business relationship, supplying the line as it upgraded older wooden infrastructure. This type of “Renewals, Ties” entry was one of the largest maintenance expense categories for 19th-century railroads — evidence of ongoing upkeep during an era when track materials were still manually produced and locally sourced. 💵 Payment Details Amount Paid: $54.00 Auditor: J. L. Lann Approved by: M. McGrath, Superintendent Category: Renewals – Ties Signed by: B. S. Hubbell 🧩 Collectible Significance This is a highly desirable early Housatonic Railroad document, combining the formal corporate printed form with handwritten entries linking to a specific local supplier. Notable Features Early printed “Housatonic Rail Road Co.” form, pre-consolidation era. Fully itemized tie counts and rates (50¢ and 25¢ per tie). Signed receipt by B. S. Hubbell, a known Stepney supplier. Matching reverse voucher sheet — complete two-page pair. Authentic signatures and audit trail (auditor and superintendent). It measures approx. 6 7/8" x 8 3/4" **Shipped securely inside a poly sleeve sandwiched in cardboard, inside a rigid mailer via USPS Ground Advantage service w/ tracking** Click HERE to see postcards I have available. Click HERE to see transit and trade tokens I have available. Click HERE to see billheads I have available. Click HERE to see letterheads I have available. For U.S. based orders, the shipping cost for the first purchase is $4.00 and no extra cost for additional similar items such as billheads, letterheads, tickets, patches, post cards, trade cards, stock certificates that can safely be shipped in the same package. I have over 58,000 unique items here on eBay - Click HERE to visit my store & save with combined shipping for multiple buys. For U.S. orders on a PC, use the "add to cart" feature to select multiple items before paying. If the cart does not combine shipping costs, I will refund excess fees as I pack your order the following morning. I have enjoyed buying and selling vintage collectibles for over 40 years. Unless noted otherwise, all items I offer are original and not reproductions. Please review photos for condition issues (if any) as they are part of the description, and contact me with questions before bidding or buying. All items are securely packed and shipped via USPS. Please rely on my 25+ yr. 10,000+ 99.9% feedback rating as a guide to your buying decision. I hope all is well with you and your family — thanks for stopping by! – Jerry
